Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Black Mumsnetters

This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.

Original poster

Nurse - stay in Birmingham or move to London

13 replies

Denzelstowel · 07/04/2023 01:07

My niece is working in a private hospital in Birmingham - she is a nurse recruited through the Working Visa programme.

She has now been offered a permanent role with NHS in London hospital. London salary better but obviously living costs are considerably higher.

She loves London and Ideally would prefer to be in London and is a bit lonely in Birmingham and is asking me for advice. She has good friends in London from back home but they have mostly settled down or a renting one room with partners etc. .

Basically should she take the London job and rent a double studio in Zone 4/5 I think this would take at least half of her salary but I'm
Not sure. or stay in Birmingham where she can afford a flat. London would have to be a studio as her fiancé visits quite often.

OP posts:
ConfusedHousehunter2023 · 07/04/2023 22:21

She's single and will likely want to get married; even if she doesn't London is a great city to experience and to make friends especially for a young professional immigrant. So I'll say she should go for it.

Where in London does she need to commute to?

She could rent a 2 bed few zones from her place of work and rent out one room. That way she shoes who she's happy to share with.

Original poster
Denzelstowel · 08/04/2023 11:00

Thanks @ConfusedHousehunter2023
Let's say central london - she has been offered St Mary's but may need to decline this offer and plan for a future move. so probably Zone 1/2 .

Do you know of any forums for health care workers she could join, she may find other young immigrants in similar position?

OP posts:
ConfusedHousehunter2023 · 08/04/2023 12:17

No I don't. St Mary's is Paddington so Slough, West Drayton, Ealing etc are on that line.

Original poster
Denzelstowel · 08/04/2023 12:35

That's a good point. West Drayton is still
Covered by Oyster. However I think financially she will prefer to be on a reasonable distance bus route as train travel can be expensive. I will try and find a forum

OP posts:
ConfusedHousehunter2023 · 08/04/2023 12:39

Slough has a bus service with few stops into Central London. It's cheap and people get to know each other on it I had a colleague who's also single,only child in her 40s. She enjoyed this bus and used it for a while.

LaGiaconda · 08/04/2023 12:43

I'd ask how long she has been in Birmngham - where I live. There are plenty of activities which might give her a chance to meet up with other people, even if shift work might get in the way.

Even if there are friends in London the sheer size of the place can mean that it's harder for them to meet up. The particularly high living costs also mean that any salary increase will get swallowed up because of hefty rents.

MotherOfRatios · 08/04/2023 16:42

I'll be honest she isn't going to find a one bed. We're all house sharing us young people.
private landlords in London also can be harsher on immigrants requiring 6months-1 year rent upfront and it's worse if yours black
just Google racism and private renting uk

there's a Facebook group poc housing for London if you privately message me, I can add her to the group chat on Twitter for black women If she uses Twitter

(I'm also young black and live in London)

Original poster
Denzelstowel · 08/04/2023 17:00

MotherOfRatios · 08/04/2023 16:42

I'll be honest she isn't going to find a one bed. We're all house sharing us young people.
private landlords in London also can be harsher on immigrants requiring 6months-1 year rent upfront and it's worse if yours black
just Google racism and private renting uk

there's a Facebook group poc housing for London if you privately message me, I can add her to the group chat on Twitter for black women If she uses Twitter

(I'm also young black and live in London)

Thank you - I think this sounds like it would be helpful but I will check with her and come back to you.

OP posts:
Singapore4 · 09/04/2023 19:22

She would have to house share in London with multiple people and even travel can cost £200/300 per month that's at least.

The good thing about nursing is you can do it worldwide. Surely lots of NHS hospitals will offer the same in different locations such as Manchester?

Delectable · 10/04/2023 00:38

Lots of hospitals also provide subsidised accommodation in London.

Exchange230316 · 10/04/2023 09:14

Subsidised hospital accommodation can be horrible. I have stayed in many and basically its luck of the draw in terms of whether that trust has invested money into building new up to date accommodation in the last 5-10 years. That determines how disgusting it will be.

Original poster
Denzelstowel · 10/04/2023 11:29

Thank you - We won't go down the route of subsidised housing yet as I am sure there are many many more higher up in the queue. once she has settled into an NHS post and lived in an area for sometime I am sure she will look into this and find out more.

I think the Facebook group mentioned above will be helpful.

OP posts:
Delectable · 10/04/2023 14:08

Exchange230316 · 10/04/2023 09:14

Subsidised hospital accommodation can be horrible. I have stayed in many and basically its luck of the draw in terms of whether that trust has invested money into building new up to date accommodation in the last 5-10 years. That determines how disgusting it will be.

Really? LLs have a legal responsibility to ensure accommodation they provide is fit for purpose. I know a nurse and pharmacist who lived in one in Fulham until last year when one got married and the other got a brand new flat for essential workers at White City.
I recall it was being renovated a couple of years ago. I guess there will be some that are not up to par as are other rentals

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread