Croydon nurse quits NHS job to move to Canada where she earns 50% more

A Croydon nurse has quit her NHS job and moved to Canada, where she earns 50% more and cares for a fraction of the patients. Audrey Barnwell, 50, from Thornton Heath, Croydon, 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 walking home late at night or very early in the morning, which left her feeling scared and vulnerable, triggering thoughts of seeking 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 (www.bchealthcareers.co.uk), which takes place in the United Kingdom from Saturday (May 11) 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.”

READ MORE: NHS prescription charges to rise to almost £10 per item amid cost of living crisis as critics say it ‘puts a price on health’

She continued: “But it’s also not an easy working environment to be in day in and day out, for staff and patients. Resources are tight, hardworking people are underpaid, and when you’re so thin, it’s impossible to give patients the kind of care they deserve. The chances of something bad happening to a patient was much higher than it should have ever been and it was a testament to how hard we worked as a healthcare team in the worst case scenario. the scenario didn’t happen.”

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 a big difference to you professionally. And on a personal level, it’s a relief to be much more financially secure and living in such a situation. 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.”

Get the biggest Croydon news, breaking updates and features straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our Croydon Central newsletter here.