Not a brag post, genuinely need perspective from those who life experience gave them wisdom.
Background:
1.5 years as a substantive consultant in a surgical subspecialty. Highly skilled in a niche area, motivated to build volume and maximise theatre time at this stage of my career.
I'm being headhunted by another trust but feel guilty about leaving supportive colleagues and a service I've helped build.
Current job
1 in 7 on-call rota (most junior consultant). 11 PA job.
~only 3 theatre lists/month. Capped elective work.
2 PA general clinics + 1 PA hot clinic (outside subspecialty + only 0.25 PA on clinic of my subspecialty. Management won't budge on this.
Occasional WLI procedures (~1 in 4 weeks), though I haven't pursued these given established PP.
Colleagues are supportive; management less so.
With 7 consultants and no retirements on the horizon, theatre growth feels capped. Elective complex cases mostly restricted to senior colleagues.
New job (being headhunted)
10 PA post, 1 in 4 rota
Minimum 1 list/week (guaranteed)
Job plan focused on my subspecialty - no general clinics.
Friends with CD and most of the 4 consultants, including the one recruiting me.
No established WLI yet, but not a dealbreaker given PP.
1 day off, 1 WFH day, 1.5 PA SPA
Logistics
Current trust: 45 mins from home
New trust: ~1 hour.
Family settled, social circle established. Moving is off the table.
The dilemma / guilt:
My current colleagues have been genuinely good to me. Leaving 1.5 years in feels disloyal. But I'm also aware that opportunities like this don't exactly queue up in my subspecialty, and I don't want to still be on 3 lists a month in five years wondering what if.
Am I being too ambitious too early? Or is staying put the slower form of regret?
Would you be loyal to colleagues or chose growing career ambitions?
Would love to hear from anyone who's made a similar jump, or chose not to.
Thanks in advance.