To leave my colleagues in the shit (NHS)?

[Makinitrain]

On Friday I had my fourth unsuccessful interview in a row in my current hospital. There always seems to be some internal or external candidate with more experience. I then have to return to my entry level admin role which gives me little extra experience to add to my CV.
After my interview on Friday, I was called in to say that if I wanted the experience then there was a higher band job coming up however:
1.) it would only be for 3 months.
2.) there would be no handover as the person leaves at the end of the week.
3.) there was no cover at present for the two wards I currently manage.

I feel torn as I don't want to leave the ward staff and other admin in the shit, as who is going to apply for a job in the NHS at this present time? Lots of people might be unemployed in the future but right now I think people would be reluctant to start work in a hospital, especially immediately.
I also think that this is the only chance I have to gain more experience. All the other admin in our place seem like they're staying out for a long time and they've just put restrictions on the amount of band 4/5's they can hire.
In the back of my mind I feel I deserve it as I'm still working whilst the majority of people I know are at home and I have done lots of stuff which is beyond my basic duties (driving around to pick up PPE, setting up Skype enabled laptops for patients to keep in touch with relatives.)
My worry is that I don't go for it and when the permanent job goes out to advert, I won't be in a better position to be successful than I am currently. Sorry if this wasn't a very juicy post!

If you are serious about wanting to progress, then absolutely you should go for it. Given feedback from your interview experience, it seems you are being given the opportunity to fill the experience gap.

Yes go for it. Also try and ask to shadow other people in the jobs you want, take any courses on offer, make yourself known to senior people in the trust as someone good and reliable, seek out opportunities to get involved in things, watch out for opportunities to do something beyond your paygrade then do a great job.

In my experience in the NHS there are two tiers of people - the ones known for being good and reliable, and the ones who just come and do their hours then go home. The people in the first group know who all the others are, and ignore the second group! You got to get known as someone in the first group!

Go for it op it shows flexibility and a willingness to learn. That will help you in your next interview.

You have to take the job. They have offered what you have been asking for and given it you interim so they can see how you go. Go for it.

Take it. You’d be mad not to in those circumstances.

Definitely go for it or you will never progress, sometimes you just have to think about yourself I'm afraid.
I spent years trying to get the higher grade and finally got it (on the medical side) by being extremely ruthless. I know I upset a lot of people but I was doing that job anyway and felt I deserved the higher grade.

Go for it.