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Original poster

Any NHS workers work in London but live up north?

27 replies

Warrior7219 · 05/08/2024 07:05

Hello,

Just wondering if there are any NHS workers who work in London but live, and commute from, up north. I have a fireman friend who has put the idea in my head as he does it but works his hours over 3 days but gets free accommodation at the fire station (central London). He said his train fare is less than the fuel he was putting in his car each week (as his previous job was 80 miles round trip). His pay and pension will now be worth more.

I'm wondering what options there are for NHS staff as I am currently in a job 100 miles away but work from home part of the week. It's costing me to stay over in hotels and I have started sleeping in the car. My children are grown and I have no-one else at home to worry about. No parents/no siblings. And, I love London and spend a lot of time down there anyway.

Issue for me is the cost of staying down there but I also know places to stay that are out of central London that are cheaper.

Just wondered if anyone did this?

OP posts:
Original poster
Warrior7219 · 05/08/2024 07:11

Oh, and my fuel costs are roughly the same as what a return ticket to London would be. I know as I go to London regularly.

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Original poster
Warrior7219 · 05/08/2024 07:14

Also, I'm not earning enhancements at the moment but could in London.

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Brandnewskytohangyourstarsupon · 05/08/2024 07:18

No but I have considered it.

Can I ask where you park in London to be able to sleep in your car?

Ohmydreams · 05/08/2024 07:22

Apparently nurses halls are very cheap and not only for nurses. What do you do?
I live in n.ireland and often consider trying to get a job in the south here as the wages are nearly double!

Westfacing · 05/08/2024 07:25

I used to work with a few colleagues who did this - it was around 10 years ago.

They worked in various places but each had a room in staff accommodation attached/associated with Charing Cross Hospital, on Fulham Palace Road. There was also somewhere that presumably was for key workers as police officers also had rooms.

Westfacing · 05/08/2024 07:33

Sorry, forgot to add, and on their days off would return to their own homes, so it must have been financially do-able.

Useruserdoubleuser · 05/08/2024 07:35

I’m in London public sector in a role that requires 100% attendance. One colleague is in a 4 on 4 off pattern where he does 4 x 12 hr shifts. He stays at a friends narrow boat where he pays low rent. His house and family are in Portugal! He goes there every other batch of 4 days off. Another one who works his pattern stays in a cheap hotel for the on-shift but otherwise lives in Wales. She says the cost of the hotel is less than the commute cost and time and buying a more local house.

A local friend rents a room to a man who stays Mon-Thu night but spends the rest of the time and all holidays with his family up north.

When my DC leave home I would consider renting a room to someone in his/your position. So someone who didn’t move in with all their stuff and was often away. Maybe ask around your office?

Mycatsmudge · 05/08/2024 07:41

Ohmydreams · 05/08/2024 07:22

Apparently nurses halls are very cheap and not only for nurses. What do you do?
I live in n.ireland and often consider trying to get a job in the south here as the wages are nearly double!

Almost all nurses homes in central London have now been sold off to private developers and turned into luxury flats to be sold off for mega bucks. This has been one of the reasons why it’s so hard for the NHS to recruit staff in London. Even the inner and outer London weighting does not cover accommodation costs in most of London. Nurses homes use to provide affordable housing for NHS staff usually near the hospital and meant hospitals had a ready supply of staff to call upon.

Bemusedandconfusedagain · 05/08/2024 07:57

I know someone that does it. She rents a room at relatively cheap rates that she found on the Monday to Friday website, albeit she's there for some weekends but only for work which the people were fine with.

You could also look at a single room in a youth hostel. They're open to all ages and are surprisingly cheap.

socks1107 · 05/08/2024 08:19

My trust still has rooms you can rent to stay in and we are very central London

CormorantStrikesBack · 05/08/2024 08:22

Friend of mine did. Had her shifts together and stayed in nurses accommodation

Original poster
Warrior7219 · 05/08/2024 08:28

@Brandnewskytohangyourstarsupon
I don't work in London at the moment. I'm working up north but usually park near the hospital where I'm working. There are a few places but it's not ideal and not something I want to do long term.

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Original poster
Warrior7219 · 05/08/2024 08:30

@Ohmydreams
I'm in pathology but also do a lot of training and quality stuff so there are other routes I could go down.

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Original poster
Warrior7219 · 05/08/2024 08:32

I think London will probably be more likely to offer staff accommodation than anywhere else in the country so it is an option - the higher salary helps to pay the commute and costs to stay over. For context, I go to London a lot now (for long weekends) and stay on the outskirts. The hotels I use (where I work now) are almost double in cost! Unbelievable tbh! I'm talking Premier Inns and Travelodge too!

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Original poster
Warrior7219 · 05/08/2024 08:36

I did email a manager a year or so ago about a job they had advertised and they said they'd be happy for me to do 3 days on-site but compress hours. I didn't look into it anymore but really considered it.

I'm doing a Masters in London but via distance learning but, when I am finished, it should open up more doors.

Ideally, I'd like a hybrid role. My current role is 4 days with full time hours worked across the 4 days - 2 days on-site and 2 days from home. That would work well!

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Original poster
Warrior7219 · 05/08/2024 08:39

@Useruserdoubleuser
Wow! Portugal! That is quite a commute. I suppose he gets cheap flights from the London area?

It's around £35 each way to fly from up here to Heathrow. I usually use the train though.

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Original poster
Warrior7219 · 05/08/2024 08:40

I do know someone who lives in Edinburgh (so a lot further away than me) who commutes to London every fortnight but, as it's the private sector, he gets it all paid for.

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Original poster
Warrior7219 · 05/08/2024 08:42

@Mycatsmudge
This is what worries me. Unless I could stay in a hotel, it wouldn't work. If there is no affordable hospital accommodation then it's difficult. No wonder the NHS struggles to recruit!

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Original poster
Warrior7219 · 05/08/2024 08:43

@socks
Which trust? I'll keep an eye out for roles!

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Original poster
Warrior7219 · 05/08/2024 08:46

Do the people who commute and stay a few nights still get the 20% London weighting or do you have to have a London address for that? Surely, they consider the fact that these people have extra costs to work in London?

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CormorantStrikesBack · 05/08/2024 09:03

My friend got London weighting. Was a few years ago but I’d assume still the same

Lovelydovey · 05/08/2024 09:08

My midwife delivered DS2 in South London but lived near Aberdeen. She commuted down and stayed over in hospital accommodation working nights.

Original poster
Warrior7219 · 05/08/2024 10:46

@Lovelydovey
Aberdeen? I suppose doable by air. Long way by train though.

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CormorantStrikesBack · 05/08/2024 11:00

Lovelydovey · 05/08/2024 09:08

My midwife delivered DS2 in South London but lived near Aberdeen. She commuted down and stayed over in hospital accommodation working nights.

I knew a midwife from Aberdeen who did this and yes she flew. Her name didn’t start with C did it?

newcat123 · 05/08/2024 11:03

All the free accommodation has gone in hospitals