I've gotta go....welll haven't I

morethan - just do it! If you can afford it. Leave the NHS to be run by those who have fewer family worries than you. And good luck to them, from what I've heard.
The old saying "charity begins at home" and obviously you know this or you wouldn't be asking.

My DH was in a similar situation to you - not NHS, though. I had been pressing him to take early retirement because I could see the way things were going, but he just couldn't bring himself to step off the edge. He made himself ill, which brought things to a head and since he left work, he has never looked back. Don't make yourself ill, morethan. You have enough on your plate. Take some sick leave and give yourself time to unwind a bit, but I think you know what you really should do.

I'm sure that life in the private sector is no picnic either, but I can only speak of what I know.

Working in the public sector gets more and more stressful as budgets are slashed, targets are raised and you're made aware in no uncertain terms that your job is to save money, not to help people. I was so relieved to get off my particular treadmill. Facebook this week threw up one of those "memories" from 3 years ago and I was shocked to see that I looked older then than I do now, and so pinched and stressed. Like Luckygirl, I got to the stage where I dreaded walking through the door, as I fear you do, and that's when you have to go.

Please retire, or at the very least do as Ceesnan advises, go to your doctor and get yourself some breathing space, though I think you need a lot more than a couple of weeks. You won't get depressed, you won't fester, life will be different but you'll adapt, you'll feel as if at least one huge weight has been lifted and you'll have time to take care of yourself. You have far too much going on in your life to make yourself ill.

I retired from NHS at 60. Best thing I ever did. My BP plummeted! Yours will too. You'd have time to really focus on your family at a time that they really need you.
You need a good rest too! Do it. You won't regret it.

I agree being stretched in all directions is playing havoc with your health,in my own experience the decision once made was a weight off of my shoulders x

I agree with the others. You sound very close to the end of your tether (not surprisingly) and you need to step back. In your place, I retired (DH's deteriorating health with an incurable illness, plus a new first grandchild due. Factor in a change in management which I knew would not be as sympathetic if I needed to take time off and, basically, falling out of love with my job). I was old enough to take retirement, but could as easily gone sick for 6 -8 weeks with stress to get my thinking straight and clocked up a couple of months more pension contributions!
Part time does not necessarily remove the problems of a job which has gone sour and I suspect a clean break is best, BUT you are possibly not in the best place to take an irrevocable decision so, get signed off, get some strength back and take your time over your decision.
You are in a dreadful position and not one you would wish on your worst enemy, but you need to keep strong for all the others - remember that thing about fitting your own oxygen mask first?

Go! Undefer your pension. Your mother, son and grandchildren need you a lot more than the NHS and you desperately need a break yourself.

How will it help if you have a breakdown? See your GP.

I know I am just repeating what everybody else is saying, but the more people say it, hopefully the more chance there is you will do it. It is probably the same advice your family would give, but having an agenda doesn't mean the advice is wrong.

morethan2 how i feel for you. You know what you need to do, now take a deep breath and write your resignation today and within minutes you will feel like the weight of the world has been lifted from your shoulders. You have nothing left to prove.Deep breath

Resign! Ask GP to sign you off while you work out your notice.

I know just how you feel - I was working in the health service (but actually paid by SSD). It got to the point where I was just a financial gatekeeper and the well being of patients was just an irrelevance to the powers that were. There was one scenario that broke the camel's back for me, when I was forced to make a detailed and complex assessment on someone for the sole purposes of justifying refusing her the help she needed; and to the detriment of her health - I told them it was not wise and that she would break down - did they care? - did they buggery.

I got to the point where I could not get out of my car in the car park because I could not face another day. So I resigned.

Eventually I retrained and picked up a different and fascinating career as a film stills photographer and picture editor for the last 10 years before I retired.

You have lots on your plate - more than enough without the burden of a workplace without a conscience. If you can afford it then just go. I do not know how old you are, but there will be lots of life for you to live and to take up new activities when your family has settled a bit from these acute and sad problems.

Please put yourself first - your employer does not own you.

Bloody tablet ceesnan not crewman.

Just to add - we have found with NHS managers that they are happy to take as long as you keep giving so dh is retiring at the end of the month.

crewman has given the best advice I think. And, you will probably find that the space to think will help you decide and you'll probably decide that you like being at home with time to cope.

You need to look after yourself and build up your reserves to cope in the future. (((hugs)))

Is it possible for you to work part time for a while ? this may help to ease the transition. Please find someone to talk to about your problems, this can help keep things straight in your mind. Try to deal with one problem and one day at a time or you will be overwhelmed. There are some things which are beyond your control so leave them aside and help where you are able to. Look after yourself and take time to relax it's important.

I retired at 60 from the NHS . I couldn't stand the constant paperwork ! I was fit and had no relatives with health problems , so I did a bit of traveling on my own , OH couldn't be bothered . I am so glad I did because now OH is chairbound , my mobility is limited and the Grandchildren need me , they more or less help me , even the 4 yr old , so I think you need to take time out ............. go sick ...... retire , take care xxxxx

Go to your GP and ask him to sign you off for a couple of weeks. You cannot go on like this and you need to take some of this pressure off yourself. It doesn't have to be permanent, just give yourself a breathing space. Please do it

If you can afford to retire, do it! You will cope so much better with your other problems and responsibilities if you have more time. If you get more worn out/ exhausted you won't be any good for anyone including yourself. Take care xx

You sound on the edge of a breakdown. Just pack it in now.
You won't cope if you don't take a break. You are dealing with far too much. Be good to yourself please. xx