U.k nurse employment

misswoosie · Apr 22, 2011

I've recently been interviewed and offered a job offer (Band 5, newly qualified) for a hospital. They had 70 positions available for Nurses.
I'm Portuguese, the interviews took place in Portugal. Now, I know about the NHS restructuration, budget cuts and front-line staff losing their jobs and being relocated. I also know newly qualified nurses are having trouble finding a job - I questioned the recruitment agency as to how it is possible that they need to recruit from Portugal and other countries under these situations. They said that in the specific area of the hospital there are no Nursing Schools, and that Nurses, even newly qualified ones, try to get a job as close to home as possible.
Fine, I can understand that family obligations and staying where you have a support network ready to help you out, are important factors in deciding whether to take a job or not. But if you don't have good prospectives in your area, do you really shun a position simply because it is further away?
The area I'm going to is only 45 mins away from London by train. Rental prices are fair, compared to London and outskirts. I haven't actually been there yet, but it looks like a nice place with lots of countryside and a few lakes nearby. I can't believe that out of the many hundreds of newly qualified nurses this semester there aren't at least a few dozen who wouldn't mind moving to work in that area...
Is it really like that?
PS- I'm really grateful for the opportunity I've been given and excited about working in an NHS trust. I'm very fond of the UK, which is what made me apply for work there as opposed to some other countries where cost of living is lower and the wages are just as good. But this does make me curious. Any input would be appreciated!

Lots of variables may influence why they can't recruit Band 5 nurses.

The hospital may not want "new grads" and more experienced nurses will be trying to get up the ladder and won't be prepared to uproot for a Band 5 especially if they have family.Availability of jobs for spouse may be poor.Moving is an expensive/stressful business and the housing market in the UK isn't good at the moment.

It may be a rural area with a lack of facilities, recreation etc. If new grads are young and single then they don't want to be somewhere where there's no social life

Although you say the rents are reasonable compared to London they may be higher compared to other parts of the UK

You don't mention the name of the hospital or nearest town or type of nursing you will be doing.

Maybe the hospital just isn't attractive to nurses.

Varda · Apr 22, 2011

Lots of variables may influence why they can't recruit Band 5 nurses.
The hospital may not want "new grads" and more experienced nurses will be trying to get up the ladder and won't be prepared to uproot for a Band 5 especially if they have family.Availability of jobs for spouse may be poor.Moving is an expensive/stressful business and the housing market in the UK isn't good at the moment.
It may be a rural area with a lack of facilities, recreation etc. If new grads are young and single then they don't want to be somewhere where there's no social life
Although you say the rents are reasonable compared to London they may be higher compared to other parts of the UK
You don't mention the name of the hospital or nearest town or type of nursing you will be doing.
Maybe the hospital just isn't attractive to nurses.

Thank you for your input, misswoosie. You bring up valid points - I have classmates who wouldn't consider going to a rural area an hour away from home if that was the only place they could get a job in. Can't say I understand the mentality, expecially when you're young, single and have a car, but I know it exists everywhere.

I'm going to Broomfield Hospital, in Chelmsford, Mid-Essex. Just a stone's throw from London, so to speak, even though the train trips are quite expensive. Like I said, I haven't been there yet - never been to the east side of England at all. I barely know the UK (London, Southampton, Warwick/Coventry and the tiny village of Stanwick are most of the places I've been to) but from what I've seen online, it doesn't sound like a terrible area.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Apr 22, 2011

Southern England is expensive to live especially in regards to housing. Not many nurses can afford it on the wages they receive and at times this includes a spouse that works. I know many commute from a couple of hours outside London and from northern England and train it because at times it works out cheaper to pay rail fare to paying rent or mortgage.

Not everyone can afford to move and prices of petrol in the UK at the moment means for a lot of people travelling an hour to work costs a lot and not always worth it and may not be able to relocate especially if their spouse/partner is already working. For many 2 people working means they are just managing

Varda · Apr 23, 2011

I've no means to compare, Silverdragon. I've made a prediction of my budget, based on the base salary (21146) minus the discounts, monthly rent (it should be all inclusive, so that's a plus); created a budget for grocery shopping (thank you online supermarkets, I feel we will become best friends), included NMC and RCN fees, alloted some money for transport (equivalent to a monthly pass for buses in the area), alloted money for a sports activities, and money for savings.

The leftover isn't much, after all this. But I think it will be enough. It wouldn't be easy if I had to support anyone else, definately, so I see your point better now. Thanks for the input!

misswoosie · Apr 23, 2011

Great!

You seem to have worked your finances out.

Chelmsford is a nice area and housing is expensive.Not much employment available outside the usual and it tends to be a commuter belt for people working in London.

Are you getting a discount on your housing through the hospital?

oTherwise I would imagine things like council tax would be very high, but then you have said your rent is all inclusive.

Good Luck! What area will you be working in ?

Varda · Apr 23, 2011

I don't know if the rent has any hospital discount or affiliation, misswoosie. I got the rent price from the agency doing the recruitment, who will be setting the nurses they hired up. They've said the price would be 410 pounds/month, all inclusive - in two or three bedroom houses. I'm used to sharing and am actually going with a classmate, so such an arrangement like that is just fine. (410 per person, that is - if it was 410 for a three bedroom house, I'd wonder if the houses were actually in England. )

I'm hoping council tax and the tv license are included in the rental price.

I've actually seen a few rooms advertised at 400 pounds/month, near the hospital, also all inclusive. But having things arranged through the agency is much simpler.

Still don't know which area I'll be in exactly. The hospital had vacancies in Medicine, Surgery, Emergency and Theatre. I imagine I'll go to Medicine or Surgery as I'm a newly qualified nurse and, though I love emergency, starting at an A&E for a very busy hospital in a foreign country might be a bit above my level!