NHS trusts have spent more than £4million on gift vouchers for staff as 'tokens of gratitude', an investigation has found.

It comes as NHS waiting times reach record highs and critics have questioned the diversion of vital funds from frontline medicine.

Out of more than 200 NHS trusts in England approached, 51 revealed they had spent funding on gift vouchers and cards for staff.

In 2020-21, these trusts spent £1.7million on rewards, suggesting this type of spending could have reached £5million across the NHS.   

By 2022-23, the figure was £4.3million, indicating total NHS spending of close to £13million, the investigation by The Sunday Telegraph found. Jonathan Eida, of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Health bosses should reflect on whether these funds could be better spent elsewhere.'

Across three years, East London NHS Foundation Trust was the highest spender – with £752,000 used for staff gift cards.

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust spent £303,000 on Love2Shop vouchers, which can be used for brands including John Lewis and Argos, for its staff in Christmas 2021.

NHS England said the decisions were made by local organisations but that taxpayers' money should not be used for such vouchers.

East London Trust said it rewarded staff for 'their absolute commitment to patient care'. 

University Hospital Southampton Trust said: 'In the grip of the Covid pandemic, gift cards were sent to each and every one of our 13,000 members of staff as a small token of thanks.'