How Much Do You Value Your Health? (NHS)

Member Name: kitschkitty

Product:	NHS
Date:	20/01/09 (256 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: If you're inept, you will undoubtedly achieve promotion quickly

Disadvantages: Most others are overworked and underpaid.

In the current economic climate, many people may, quite sensibly, be considering a career in a recession-proof industry. Sickness is an unfortunate fact of life and so the NHS may seem like a sensible option. The salaries may seem fair on the face of it and with the addition of a reputable pension and holiday package as well as job security, I myself thought the NHS would provide me with a rewarding and fulfilling career with plenty of opportunity to progress. Unfortunately for me, this hasn't proven to be the case.

When I first fell into working for the NHS, I was escaping a long string of sales jobs. Whilst I may have been successful and able to achieve sales targets, I lacked any job satisfaction and job security was something that regularly preyed on my mind. In an environment that focused on care, I foolishly hoped that targets and Key Performance Indicators would be a thing of the past. But the NHS is constantly driven by targets, particularly in Cancer Services where I work. Here, people are faceless figures that must not breach government targets. The newly appointed operations manager for the department has already publically stated that her priority is to improve the figures for the department and she is not interested in the welfare of her staff members.

The pressure on staff at all levels is immense and despite being relatively low on the NHS career ladder, I am already in a position where switching off from work is nigh on impossible and waking in the night to write down 'to do' lists for the following day is becoming a more and more common occurrence. It perhaps comes as little surprise that the Cancer Services department where I work has one of the highest staff turnovers in the whole trust which means the remaining staff are regularly expected to take on extra work and responsibilities. Being single and childless, it would seem I was not in a position to refuse and was threatened with disciplinary action if I did not help the team by taking on an excessive workload. For a number of months, I carried out the duties that were originally split between three full time members of staff. During this time, despite vacant positions within the department, no attempt was made to recruit new staff.

It didn't come as any surprise to me when I finally found myself unable to cope any more and dreading each working day. Despite speaking to my supervisor, no help was offered and whilst I did the work of three people, other colleagues booked three week holidays and were not asked to take on any additional responsibilities. And so I was signed off work by my doctor and prescribed antidepressants. Eight weeks passed, and yesterday I returned to work hoping that perhaps some changes would have been made in my absence. But once again, Cancer Services and the NHS have let me down.

Despite having a very practical and sensible policy regarding stress in the workplace, the guidance within this document has been ignored by my managers. Instead, my return to work interview today included comments such as 'you need to be more positive' which, correct me if I'm wrong, is perhaps not the most appropriate thing to say to someone who is clinically depressed. I was also told that my problem was the fact that I didn't have a boyfriend or family to talk to when I was upset. Thanks for the reminder although thankfully I have plenty of friends who have been very sympathetic and helpful.

In my experience, career progression within the NHS is not about what you know but who you know. Networking can help you to quickly gain a managerial position, regardless of whether you have any people skills or any supervisory experience. I've also come across many workers who simply don't pull their weight but delegation is the key and can earn high praise indeed.

There are of course people who enjoy their jobs within the NHS and are fortunate enough to work in a well managed and supportive department. But in my job, I work closely with a wide range of staff across the hospital and within primary care and I've heard many stories of people who work long hours without overtime and nearly always without thanks or appreciation.

I may have only been back at work for a mere two days, but I have already made the decision that I value my health much more than the success of the 'team' in which I work. Cue a flurry of emails to recruitment agencies and I hope I will not have to endure the atmosphere in my office for much longer. Luckily for me, although the NHS is generous with its holiday entitlement, my department has been less than generous in allowing me to take any holidays I am owed so the 4 weeks holidays that are burning a hole in my annual leave form will at least mean my notice will be brief. So if despite reading this you'd still like to pursue a career within Cancer Services, my post will no doubt be open to interested parties about 6 months after my finishing date. Incidentally, I am paid at a band higher than those carrying out the exact same job at another hospital 20 miles away so if you think the NHS's claims to be fair under the Agenda for Change are true, then think again.

Summary: It's time to chase my dreams.