NHS nurse moves to Canada for 50% pay rise and fewer patients

A nurse quit her job in the NHS and moved to Canada, where she earns 50% more and looks after some of the patients. Audrey Barnwell, 50, found herself suffering from chronic physical and mental exhaustion for the first time in her life due to the demands of the job.

Days off became catch-up time, motivation to see friends and family was lost, and colleagues left the profession left and right. Long hours saw Audrey, of Thornton Heath, Croydon, walking home late at night or very early in the morning, which left her feeling scared and vulnerable, sparking thoughts of looking for a new life elsewhere.

So in 2008, she took the leap after extensive research into safe places to live — and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada kept popping up. Speaking on behalf of the BC Health Careers UK Roadshow, which takes place in the UK from Saturday to highlight short- and long-term work options in British Columbia, she said: “I love the NHS and always will. It is one of Britain’s greatest creations.

“But, it’s also a work environment that’s not easy to be in day-to-day, for staff and patients. Resources are limited, hardworking people are poorly paid, and when you’re that thin, it’s impossible to give patients the kind of care they deserve.

“The chances of something bad happening to a patient were far greater than they should have ever been and it was a testament to how hard we worked as a healthcare team that the worst case scenario did not occur.”

When she first arrived in Canada, Audrey couldn’t believe the difference. Audrey was surprised to see that nurses and all medical staff were paid fairly for their work, with her salary going from £22,000 to the equivalent of over £30,000 when she moved.

In a noticeable change from her previous experiences working in London, there were more beds, staff and machines available to help staff do their jobs better. In the UK he was caring for dozens of patients at once, while in Canada he can focus his efforts on just one hand thanks to the larger team.

She used to be permanently exhausted after coming off her shifts in the UK, working more than 80 hours a week. But now, every morning, she feels energetic enough to wake up at 4 a.m. for a run or hike in the mountains, beaches and trails before her new 38-hour work week, finding the fresh air particularly liberating.

All while managing to advance his career much faster than he would at home. Audrey now returns to the UK to highlight the benefits that can be gained from moving to North America, whether for short working holidays or as a long-term career move.

She added: “When the health system you work in is properly resourced, it makes such a difference to you professionally. And on a personal level, it’s a relief to be so much more financially secure and live in such a beautiful place.

“I’m sixteen years older than I was when I left Britain, but I’ve never had more energy in my life.”