Leaving the NHS

[NoRoseTintedGlasses]

I have more than 5 years experience as a nurse under my belt in various areas and I have never been in a job where I have felt so undervalued, over worked and in general, burnt out.

I have the opportunity to leave the NHS. Still as a nurse, with pension and life assurance (although not as good as the NHS). I have a life insurance policy in place.

Have you left the NHS and not regretted it? At the moment, I am finding it hard to regret leaving the NHS; the management, culture, constant pressure, lack of support (it's an endless list).

Would like insights please? TIA

I don’t blame you my husband left after 20 years as a manager and retrained in a different profession They froze his pension and he received it when he reached 60. He has never regretted his decision and wished he had left sooner.

I left the NHS after getting to matron level( so worked about 15 years in nhs). I was offered a role in the independent sector. Then after a few years I moved to private hospitals. Now I work in a university in nurse education. There’s been no issues for me leaving the nhs but whatever you decide to do try to keep your PIN number.

I left the NHS in January. Best decision ever! Now I actually provide good care and am back volunteering in the very NHS I left. You don’t realise how harmful and toxic the culture is until you’re out. I think a break really clarifies it.

Left years ago. Zero complaints. Better job, significantly better money (although arguable as I don’t know if I’d done as well within NHS), better work life, better everything IMO.

My DD left the NHS (Hospital setting & hated it) for Australia, she came back to the UK for family reasons, she very much loved life in Australia.

She is now in a NHS community role, loves her job, good management and wouldn't leave, even made band 6.

Seems to be a big difference between the two areas.