Leaving the NHS

[Afieldofroses]

Have any clinical workers done this and regretted it?

I can't cope anymore, my work is affecting every part of my life and I dread going in everyday. The workload is enormous and I feel like I'm not even making the slightest dent in it. It's never ending, I've had periods similar to this post covid where I felt like I couldn't go on but this is the worst it's been. I can't enjoy my days off because I am exhausted and flat, I have a family but I don't feel like I'm engaging positively because I'm checked out and mentally exhausted.

I have found a job I'm quite keen on, similar salary and I get to keep my registration. It's less hours but manageable. I would have to put plans for having more family on hold as I would not be entitled to maternity leave until roughly a years continuous service.

Has anybody taken the leap and never looked back?

Could you get another job and stay nhs

compare
pension
holidays think it’s 33 days when u upto max
6 months full pay sick 6 months 1/2 pay
pay enchantment make an enormous boost to pay unsocial after 8 pm and weekend rate

Whilst private companies pay more there terms aren’t always as good

@rwalker I think I'm done, there are limited options for non clinical roles.

The job I want to try is local authority so still good sick pay and pension etc.

I have considered this a lot. Currently still in NHS (clinical) but often dream of not being!

Could you try to move to a non clinical role if you need/want to keep your terms and benefits?

@bookish83 I have considered this but these jobs don't come up often and I don't feel that I can hang on waiting and being miserable anymore, it's really sad that it's gotten to this point but here I am 😞

I work in the NHS and feel the same, esp not being able to enjoy time off, feeling flat and not actually enjoying life at home. I'm just scared to leave but I want to.

@pinkwaterbottle9 you have my sympathies, it's not a good place to be in mentally.

Sympathies to all of you.

How close are you to retirement.?
I felt like this ….well maybe not as much as you……but ended up hanging on and retiring and returning at 55 to get my full pension( returned to 2 days a week at a lower band) …..no matter how busy those 2 days are , I know I’ve got 5 days off so it doesn’t stress me out…..

I left NHS nursing 5 years ago. I’m pretty sure I will never go back. I work as a community nurse for an agency. I earn 10k more for 24hrs a week work. I get all the holidays I want off. No fighting hanging around to be signed off.

Yes the pension is lower but I have a private pension and I’ve been able to make a huge dent in my mortgage. I’d like to leave nursing all together.

I have referred myself for counselling through work, which I hope will help take some of the stress/guilt out of it and a safe space to talk.

I made the move 5 years ago after 15+ years in the NHS and have never looked back.

I get to actually enjoy my job now, doing the clinical work I trained for rather than just delivering a consultative model.

Go for it!! I left the NHS nearly 10 years ago. I've continued to work in healthcare related roles (but now non-clinical). There have been challenges e.g job security/working culture/getting used to home working and managing my own time. However, overall it's been a good move. Better salary, loads of new skills, more freedom/flexibility and less stress. I feel like the master of my own destiny rather than being resentful all the time. It sounds like you need a change and it could be a great opportunity by the sounds of it.