The private sector is becoming more popular

Historically, the majority of Nurses in the UK have commenced and completed their careers within the NHS, without ever working in the private sector. These days, however, this is starting to change and loyal NHS employees are readily considering the private sector.

There are many stigmas about the private healthcare sector. Most of these stigmas stem from the theory that private companies put profits above patient care. However, our experience at Appoint Healthcare is that this is certainly not the case. As within the NHS, there is variety in the quality of service provision in the private sector.

The viewpoint that Appoint Healthcare consistently sees is that high-quality patient care is paramount to the reputation and success of private healthcare companies. The private sector has a significantly greater expectation of quality and, without quality, a private business will soon gain a poor reputation and profits will fall.

How does the private sector differ to the NHS?

The private sector will often offer single rooms, high staff-to-patient ratios and low infection rates. Additionally, waiting lists for patients are usually minimal (if not non-existent) and treatment can start very quickly. More often than not, clinical staff  have greater amounts of time to spend with patients and their families. They can take the time to explain the details of what is happening and why, and give them more confidence to make important decisions.

All of this can have a profound effect on employee satisfaction. It’s not uncommon for NHS staff to be stretched to the extent that they feel like they are only able to do half a job of providing real quality patient care. The NHS does an incredible job of utilising fairly limited resources, but the fact is that resources are indeed limited. This in itself can often have a particularly adverse effect on patient care. On top of this, it can also negatively affect the morale and job satisfaction of those working in the NHS.

Benefits and perks

Combined with a downward pressure on nursing salaries at present, there are a number of reasons why NHS staff are choosing to consider moving to the private sector. Private sector salaries are very competitive these days and, whilst they don’t always offer all of the perks that the NHS can muster, they often have some of their own too. These can include significant financial welcome bonuses or ‘Golden Handshakes’.

The private sector also tends to offer advanced training and career development processes and opportunities. This aspect is in fact fast becoming a USP (Unique Selling Point) of the private healthcare sector. Private companies are committing more and more investment to the up-skilling and development of their valued staff.

Leaving the NHS can be daunting

For someone who has worked within the NHS for many years, the prospect of leaving the NHS can be a daunting prospect. Indeed, it can appear to be a large risk. For those that are in this position, it’s important to find a recruitment consultancy that you can trust. Subsequently, you can have a confidential, non-committal discussion and gain a better understanding of what is on offer. Also, you can discuss how it might compare and what the risks might actually be.

The NHS has its own benefits and has offered ideal employment to millions of people. Nevertheless, it doesn’t have all answers for all people. Indeed, others will find that their career would be enhanced by a period in the private sector.

Appoint Healthcare always welcome enquiries, however non-committal. Please feel free to call our friendly team, where we can introduce you to someone who specialises in your specific clinical area.