NHS workload and hostile manager leaving me considering private sector

[teddybearlollipop]

I started a new role (a dual role) in the NHS a couple of years ago but I am really struggling with the workload and my manager is making me feel like I am underperforming and not dealing with things properly (and showing me up in meetings with others). The trust is in serious financial difficulties and they haven’t recruited new staff for a long time, even after losing a number of people, and remaining staff are expected to pick up the work (hence why there is also a high sickness rate). I have also discovered (through my old colleagues etc.) that other trusts split my role and have 2 full time people in the role (rightly so, as both require full time capacity). The manager has no concept of capacity!

It is having a massive effect on my life. I am working from home at weekends trying to catch up. After 30 years in the NHS, with an exemplary work history, I am cracking. I have worked at this level (band 7) before and never experienced this. I am very worried for my future as I live alone now and have a mortgage to pay until retirement. I am stressed to bits and suffering the symptoms of stress.

There are no jobs out there in the NHS - I guess most places have a recruitment freeze - so I am considering looking for something in the private sector. I’m not a nurse but have a lot of experience and qualifications in my area. I have always been so loyal to the NHS but this job is destroying me. I’m worried I will just have a complete meltdown and lose my job. The manager is vile. Never appreciates anything and belittles people a lot.

I know I lose a lot of pension going to the private sector but, if I don’t do something, I will
lose everything (yes, I have had dark thoughts). I have been off sick for a month, recently, but you are forced to return with threats of ‘we will follow the absence management policy and escalate to stage 2 etc.’. I have never been off for more than the odd day in 30 years!!!

Can anyone advise my next move? I’m mid 50’s. Im looking at remote roles (based in London) that may be my best option. I live up north but have easy access to London by train.

I need to do something. My previous roles were never like this and I always got on well with previous management. My old boss still stays in touch!

You’ve identified the issues clearly and you can tell from your track record that it’s not you. It’s the job. And that’s not going to change.

Do you have a handle on what your NHS pension will pay you when it kicks in, if you stop contributing now?

What salary do you need from a new role and once you’re in, can you maximise pension contributions to build up as big a pot as possible before you retire?

I think knowing this will give you the reassurance that you don’t have to destroy your health and happiness for the next x years in this awful job.

Because I agree, you absolutely have to leave the job. Whether that’s another NHS job (doesn’t look likely from what you’ve said) or something outside.

I’d probably try and look more locally as the train commute will eat money you could be ploughing into your pension. And hybrid roles have a habit of suddenly wanting more days in the office.

Good luck. I had an impossible job once in my 30+years of working (so far!) which made me ill, and I swore never again. That was 12 years ago and I’m still angry at what it did to me. I left after about eight months of it and I will never put myself in that position again.

Honestly, I would go off sick with work related stress and raise a grievance. Don’t worry so much about stage 2, usually you wouldn’t hit that until 3-5 months sickness but you would have been better staying off previously. I’m assuming you’re at stage 1 so if I was you I would go off sick as I said and stay off- don’t let your manager put stress on you.

I forgot to mention, I’ve also had parts of other roles (band 8a level) dumped on me ‘temporarily’ since early 2025 as two band 8’s left and weren’t replaced. Obviously, dealing with everything is overwhelming.

you will have to change your outlook
report the over work
do not work over time
who is doing your job while you are off sick?

@SoScarletItWas
I would freeze my NHS pension at top of band 7. I would also contribute to a new pension in the private sector but would look at paying in more to make up the shortfall (although the pension in the NHS is split into 1995 section, that I can get at 60 and is more substantial, and the 2015 section, worth less). I’m paying into the 2015 section now.

I know people who left the NHS and they were advised to go for a slightly higher pay in the private sector to make up the pension loss - I’d need £55 - £60k, at least. My mortgage is based on my band 7 salary - I was going to use the lump sum at 60 to pay it off.

I would only go for a role in London if travel costs were covered.

Yes, I’m at stage 1.

I have. He just has a way of making you look like you’re not up to it! There is a lot of work I do that he doesn’t see. Expectations from others due to my job title etc. It just piled up for me while I was off.

I had similar in a school.

it’s the job. Not you. You know that.

Of course it is! Look, you have been put in an impossible situation. Your manager has no reason to fix it, because you’re solving the problem by getting it all done AT A MASSIVE COST TO YOURSELF. Manager doesn’t care as long as the work is done.

So you either need to:

Have regular and frustrating conversations with horrid manager about priorities. ‘This week I have capacity to achieve these things. These won’t get done. Is that the right prioritisation or why should I drop to focus on xyz?’ This is the only way your manager feels the pain of tasks not getting done and that’s the only thing that will make them go upwards and seek more resource. Right now they don’t have to send that flag up because YOU ARE SOLVING IT FOR THEM.

Or you raise the issue and ask for a regrade - not what you want because you don’t want the stupid workload at any grade, even if it happened. Which it won’t; it never does.

Or you vote with your feet.

OP I think you seeing this as a personal failure. It is not. You sound like someone who can deliver a lot of work. But we all have a limit. You have a high limit. But you’ve found it. You can’t carry on, nobody suffers except you.

Health is wealth.
Prioritise this.
Update your CV and look for another job.
Could you rent out a room etc for extra income.
Take a lower paid job ifuou have to.
The less stressed the body the stronger you will be.
Taking too much time sick will not be good idea if you are planning to move to another job.

I think one extra hour a day is acceptable. Not more at your level.

I'd keep a diary of hours/tasks completed a d I'd call out the public undermining, privately but every single time.

The pension is the pension and you've 30 years worth in your mid 50s, it's value will be preserved, albeit actuarily reduced, plus inflation. If you leave, you'll have another pension and 13 years of it if you continue until 68.

No job is worth making yourself ill over but you need to be careful about the sickness absence. Another employer may make an offer and once they have, they can ask about absences in the reference.

How much do you need to survive and can you be flexible - I'd clean and so bar work if it meant I could tell a bitch to stick her job where the sun doesn't shine.

I’ve updated my CV and joined LinkedIn. I haven’t put my CV on it though as I was just browsing to see what’s out there.

I have 2 spare bedrooms that aren’t used. I have actually thought of renting my house out and taking a job in London for a few years. Rent would cover for a flat, not much more.

I think, realistically, a remote working role would be ideal.

Great.
Also, remember plan your nutrition.
You need to eat nutritious meals because your body is going through extreme stress and anxiety. Fruit veg good protein.
Make sure you are having a good breakfast.
Lots of water throughout the day.
Go for 2 walks a day in nature preferably. Local park?

Have a nice hot baths with essential oils like lavender before bed.
Regular sleep patterns too.
Small steps but follow them.

Importantly remember this.
Nothing stays static you will get through this.
Good things are coming.

Can you not take your 1995 pension now? I took mine at 56 and paid off the mortgage and moved job roles. For the minimal amount I lost it was a no brainer.

No, I don’t have SCS.

I was part time for 12 years too.

I didn't either, but I was full time.

I would like to add a horrible story of my own .
i worked for nhs for 40 years as a band 7 for 25 yrs.
shocking management
stress / workload .
assuming it would be acknowledged and more staff employed .
my health has been ruined
stroke / high blood pressure / overwhelming stress .
had time off due to work related stress.
few days back then off sick for a year - dismissed due to health/ capability with severe depression.
a month as an inpatient / crisis team etc .
the nhs ruined my life .
please don’t be me .

Hence why it’s a no. I couldn’t afford it. I’ve just had to take a mortgage out (marriage breakdown) after being mortgage free for years too.

Sorry to read they treated you that way. I think it’s shocking the way the NHS treats its own staff. 40 years service too! I totally sympathise and I know my health is suffering already. I want out and I think I’m going to have to push myself out. I honestly don’t think I’ll make retirement age if I don’t.