Leaving NHS employment

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I would welcome replies from anyone who has left an NHS podiatry post and moved into the private sector please - your experiences and feelings on the subject.

I have worked for the NHS for over 20 years and have simply had enough! I have felt like this for the past few years.The issue of regular pay , sickness and pension cover is the obvious thing that is stopping me - however if I continue as I am I won't reach pension age!

In my quest to get out I set up a private practice 18 months ago which is building slowly.

I do consider myself lucky to have a job however it is now impacting on my health. I am thinking that perhaps I can find a couple of days a week in an established practice - it just feels like such a massive step.

I'm grateful for any words of wisdom

Thanks in advance and hoping I don't sound too desperate

 

Hi Sammi


Maybe buying an established practice might ease the painful transition from NHS to becoming self employed. The owner of the practice could do a 6month handover period .

 

It is a big step. Could you go part-time NHS while your practice is building?

 

Hi Sammi,

Having made the leap myself almost 18 months ago I can highly recommend it. I had the same problems with work imacting upon my health and life in general.
The past 18 months have been hard work and scary at times, but very definitely worth it. There are alternative, good pension packages out there (and lots of companies willing to provide you with all the information you could ever require about them). So far I haven't really needed to worry about sick pay as my health improved suprising quickly!! Should it happen however, there are plenty of pods out there willing to cover clinics and help each other out, so your patients get seen and you still get at least some income. There are also many insurances out there which I have yet to invest in, but I am assured will provide financial cover if needed.

It may also be worth trying to find some ad-hoc work at another practice while building yours up - I did at a practice that is close enough to be worthwhile but far enough away from mine that there are no conflicts of interest! It helps cover the bills especially in the beginning.

Obviously only you can make the decision but it is definitely not one to be afraid to make - just be aware of the issues and ask around for advice. I don't know what your local SCP branch is like, but mine has been fantastic and people having been very willing to help so it is well worth asking for advice there.

Good Luck
Marie

 

Hi Sammi
I did the same around 10 years ago and I've never looked back. It is a big leap of faith but it was definitely a good move for me. Not having a regular pay cheque at the end of each month takes a bit of getting used to but you will be working for the best boss you ever had!
Your NHS pension can stay where it is if you wish and you can then take it as you would have if you had remained in NHS employment ( although the size of your "pot" won't build up any further) or you can draw it out - but that usually means quite a reduction in the amount that they will give you.
Sickness can be an issue if you are unfortunate enough to suffer a spell of ill health, but hopefully the reduced stress levels will help keep sickness down a bit anyway!
As for holidays, just make sure that your fee structure allows for regular breaks. I try to work on the basis of some advice given to me many years ago by a successful business woman and have a break ( if only a short one) every three months. I don't always quite manage to stick to that, but I certainly do my best!!!

Good luck and best wishes
Anne

 

Dear Sammi
I have a private practice which I started 7 years ago. It has gone from strength to strength and, whilst I was never employed by the NHS, one of the podiatrists who now works for me was and she has never looked back. Like you she was becoming burned out and retrained in her early 50s as a podiatrist. She maintains that working as a self employed practitioner within a private practice is the happiest she has been for many years.
It is a daunting thought to give up the security of permanent employment. I would stress that you choose your private practice carefully. I run a clinic where good staff and patient relationships are as important as the highest standard of treatment and the podiatrists are prepared to go just that little bit further to provide a special service which can't be found elsewhere. I'm sure this has been my recipe for success and therefore the success of my other practitioners. If you can find a similar private practice then I'm sure you will make a happy career change.
Best of luck.
Alex

 

Sami don't believe it when they say there are good private pensions out there this is a lie .if you saved 100 pounds per month and a Dutchman did the same his pension would be double the size of yours. Why because in the uk the pension industry rips you off it keeps 40 percent of all your money for itself where do you think all the bankers bonuses come from. If you are an ordinary tax payer it is better to save your money in a cash isa any decent accountant will tell you this. I had a meeting with my accountant last month and he said hey fancy a pension to lower that 40 percent tax bill i i said ok jez have you got one he said not f----ck --g likely.your NHS pension cannot be equalled
So good luck with your decision when I left at first I went part time losing a day per week over18. Months. Take good advise don't rush. Next when you retire you have to buy an annuity guess what the rates are abysmal worse is yet to come you are very successfully your pension pot is worth 500000 pounds you retire draw your 1st monthly check disaster you die guess who gets to keep all of your cash yes you guessed the lovely people who sold you the annuity.you can hear the flutes of crystal chinking yet another sucker bites the dust roll on another city bonus.

 

sounds like you have thought about it quite a bit, best advice i could give about starting a business (i did it 8 years ago now) is learn a bit about business, get some books on marketing and use them, guerrilla marketing for free by Jay conrad levingson is a good start, gives you loads of stuff you can do to promote the business and all you need is a computer and a some paper.
forget what everyone else is doing and concentrate on what works for you, make sure you test your advertising/marketing and see what works, no point knowing that 50% of it is working if you don't know what 50%, think outside the box, what other services could you offer within the business to increase your income, what about simple shoe modifications, a ball and ring stretcher is a a few £ and can be used to stretch shoes for bunions and hammer toes, charging £5-£10 and it soon pays for itself and makes a nice profit, loads of other stuff like this will all add up.... remember the wise words of old felix who jumped from the edge of space.... "the only thing standing between you and your goal is the bull**** story that you tell yourself every day as to why you can't achieve it!

good luck

 

That is exactly right !!!!

I have just got my figures from my private pension it is as fishpod quoted this pension rip off is a national disgrace and its hitting those like me that have not got the years left to recover from it so..

Retirement?? What retirement

Cheers
D ( The sucker)

 

where are you in cheshire sammi i might have some work from may 2013

 

hi sammi i left the nhs about 3 years ago and although had problems i've vever looked back, her are some tips that i learnt that hard way!

find an associate practice e.g osteopaths that may be able to rent a room to you

ask nhs i you can go part time to start with

if you are going out on your own make sure you have a good years pay behind you, and some kind of part time job to pay bills

dont be ssucked in by companies offering you gp advertising waste of time

and i think this is the most important one! account for one full days business to build up a year, if you are a good podiatrist then clients will return

good luck
sarahxx

 

if you are a good podiatrist then clients will return

Yes, but sometimes they can't cos they passed away. On that note read the aubitutories (excuse spelling) in local newspaper. Go to your patients funerals, if you can manage, the family and friends really appreciate it....You do sometimes meet up with possible new patients (when at the funeral)...

The thing is if you really are a good Pod, then you will find that sometimes pts may take months before they return. I noticed in my area, the FHPs were not telling pts about poron insoles, so they were enucleating corns and debriding callous every 4 - 6 weeks. With a pair of poron insoles and correct footwear, IMO, has resulted in really happy pts, and you only see them every 3 - 4 months (no corns just some callous). If you good, folk will come to you via word of mouth - which is really nice...Mind you - have been in business for a few years and do not have tons of patients - but that is life

:drinks Good luck!!!

 

Sammi I know this is an old post but how did you get on? I am completely broken by the Nhs..I need to leave before my health suffers any further.

 

I too would like to know how you got on, Private practice seems increasingly atractive now