If I were you I'd stay in your current role and wait to see if you are made redundant. The 5k may sound nice, but if you struggle to find any decent employment afterwards because of your age, skills, etc., the 5k would soon vanish.
I worked in IT for a short while before being made redundant. I've gone for something completely different in the NHS in the hope my job is safe for life, and with the benefit of further training and progession.
i did exactly the opposite to you mate
as i approached 30 i realised enough of the NHS and its total lack of funds, annual sub-inflation payrises (or more often than not frozen for years), poor work conditions and stupid red tape related to the clinician's job i did, and decided to retrain in IT and never looked back (14 years and counting).
friends i have who are still in NHS are all hoping to be pensioned off early with ill health or have had enough of the red tape and bullshit its full of, which is a shame as its patient care that suffers ultimately.
My last apprentice from NHS days has just resigned to go work in healthcare in the private sector, much better money and his wage before he left (a dept workshop manager in Prosthetics) was earning less than I do as a lowly site admin.
The NHS has had the same issues for decades, too many middle n top managers syphoning off big salaries for themselves, at the expense of the real workers and patient care.
they also have to stop the tiered payrise system in effect, RCN negotiate always a better rate than all the doctors and ancillary staff reps, usually with the RCN bullshit saying oh the NHS couldn't operate without nurses! Err it couldnt without all ancillary staff also yet they get lower rises and poorer wages.
Add the annual blowing remnants of budgets on anything (Jan-March every year) and everything to make sure they get same budget the following year, but not spending it wisely on stuff the NHS and patients needs.
they know critical care staff would never strike or work to rule, and every govt and trust has abused that since the late 40s, wont ever be any different
I think the perfect example of how ill equipped the NHS is to care for our population is the fact that such charities like Maggies and Macmillan CC even exist, pallative care IS the NHS responsibility, yet both get sod all from NHS/Govt and have to be registered as charities.
