The current Labour government has pledged to build an NHS that is ‘fit for the future’, promising to cut waiting times, offer 40,000 more appointments per week, bring back the family doctor and more.
Recent government publications state that Labour has already invested £22 billion in the NHS, helping to support both medical staff and patients. Our NHS is a uniquely precious service, vital to the health of our country and essential to so many – not just from a healthcare perspective, but from an employment one.
The NHS is one of the largest employers in the world, with an estimated 1.6 million employees and the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan is set to increase the number of permanent employees to 2.2-2.3 million by 2036-37. Recent statistics show that the number of doctors and nurses joining the NHS since 2010 has only continued to grow, with the NHS vacancy rate dropping to 7.7% in June this year. The number of NHS doctors and nurses has increased by 25% in the past five years (to July 2024).
With ambitious government targets on the horizon and more medical professionals coming on board, specialist medical accountants BW Medical take a look at some of the many reasons why a career with the NHS can be so rewarding…
1. The chance to provide quality care
Obviously, the main reason the majority of people join the NHS is because they genuinely care about their community and want to promote better health. Countless NHS staff regularly testify to the rewarding nature of helping others improve their health and supporting them through treatment.
NHS staff are a very caring and talented group – a fact never clearer than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the clear challenges of recent years, a recent survey reveals that 79% of NHS staff respondents are proud to work for the NHS, while three in 10 UK respondents would consider working for the NHS if they were to begin their career again.
2. An inclusive and diverse workplace
The NHS is committed to inclusion and diversity and is continually taking steps to try and improve representation across the service. As of March this year, the NHS employs more black and ethnic minority staff in senior positions than ever before. 47.5% of consultants, dentists and doctors, as well as 33.6% of nurses, health visitors and midwives, come from a black or minority ethnic background.
Representation for disabled colleagues on NHS Boards has also risen to 5.7% in recent years, with disability declaration rates increasing by almost 20% among NHS staff, thanks to better engagement from their NHS Trust.
3. The generous NHS pension
The NHS has one of the most generous pensions out there, with an employer contribution rate of 23.7% – compared to the standard contribution rate of 3% for employers outside of the NHS. The pension scheme is open to all NHS employees and your individual contributions will only increase in line with your wage.
Your NHS pension is also guaranteed – most pension ‘pots’ are invested and subject to change or loss, whereas NHS pensions aren’t affected by negative investment changes or market conditions. As of March last year, the NHS Pension Scheme had over 1.8 million active members.
4. Opportunities for progression
There are more than 350 different career opportunities within the NHS – from surgeons and dentists to marketing and admin roles, each with its own unique set of skills and requirements. After you’ve achieved the qualifications necessary to land your dream role within the NHS, there is plenty of scope for career progression with employees receiving personal development reviews and tailored plans to support their career goals.
Those who begin a career as a Support Worker – helping their community by focusing on their area of interest, such as maternity care, physical or emotional wellbeing, speech therapy and more – can progress into a registered or allied health professional role.
Healthcare support work can lead to apprenticeship and degree opportunities, with colleagues becoming fully qualified physiotherapists, midwives, occupational therapists and more.
5. The bonus of NHS discounts
With NHS staff providing such an essential service, it seems only right that they receive the small bonus of NHS-specific discounts! From money off the weekly shop and everyday essentials to lowered prices on well-deserved days out, unique experiences and entertainment, NHS staff are entitled to a wide range of discounts from a variety of well-known brands.
Staff can sign up to receive benefits or simply ask in-store if a discount is available with the NHS staff ID.
So, there you have it, five of the top reasons to join the NHS today! Which reason do you identify with most?
