Healthcare myth busting! – Working in the private sector

As a leading specialist healthcare recruitment firm, we often speak to candidates who are considering leaving or have recently left the public sector to work privately. Many other candidates  straddle both sectors– more on that later – and we often hear a lot of the same fears and concerns about the industry. Most healthcare professionals who train in the UK will start their careers in the NHS, when jobs become available in the private sector, some people fear they will be ‘abandoning’ the service, that they will lose job security, or that it will hinder their career. As is often the case, a lot of these narratives are based on misunderstandings of how the industry works, and others are just conjecture and rumour. Here are a few of the most common myths we hear about moving to the private sector, and the reality behind them.

Private Clinics Only Treat Rich People

First off, it’s a myth that it’s a binary choice between the two. Most private hospitals and clinics offer at least some of their services to NHS patients, so you’re rarely going to have to give up caring for NHS patients entirely. Throughout the pandemic, private hospitals played a vital role in easing the strain on the NHS, meaning that for the last few years, even the largest independent hospitals have been treating at least as many NHS patients as they are self-paying and insured. Now the need for emergency covid wards has ended, there is a resultant tremendous backlog on the NHS, especially in areas like elective surgery. It’s likely that the private sector will continue playing a key role in the delivery of these NHS services for some time ahead.

There’s no job security

While things in the private sector do run a little differently from the public sector, you may be surprised by how many things are similar. Of these, healthcare professionals in the private sector still enjoy great job security. This is in no small part due to the scarcity of qualified people to fill roles, across both public and private sectors. Private healthcare providers often have stringent hiring standards, but permanent contracts are still the norm, and once hired you enjoy considerable job security.

There are Fewer Opportunities to Advance

Another common myth we hear about the private sector is that only the very best, world-renowned professionals have a chance of promotion. Private healthcare providers in the UK offer structured career plans like the NHS. Any good employer should recognise and support your career goals, but private healthcare providers have an interest in offering development opportunities that mirror or exceed what’s available in the public sector, to retain the talent they need. What’s more, many private hospitals will employ consultants and senior staff who are world-leaders in their speciality, which means you’ll have the opportunity to work with and learn from these experts.

Working in the Private Sector is More Stressful

Every fertility clinic and hospital in the UK, both NHS and private, has very strict benchmarked standards of care, and almost all jobs in the industry require high levels of dedication and resilience. That said, moving to the private sector can often do wonders for your work-life balance. All providers and clinics will vary slightly, but in general the private sector has a much lower patient to nurse ratio, less rigidity and better work-life balance. Many of the UK’s leading fertility clinics offer significant flexibility around your contracted hours, and benefits packages often include generous leave allowances, travel expenses and sabbaticals.

Working in the private sector is not for everyone, and the NHS still has many great benefits as an employer. But healthcare professionals looking to work in smaller, more intimate settings, or specialise in niche fields often find what they’re looking for in private clinics, or by splitting their time between the two.

If you work in fertility or women’s health and want to find out if Fertility Talent can help you find your dream job, call one of our expert consultants on 01904 230002 or send your CV to info@fertilitytalent.co.uk