Briefing / NHS Pension Scheme proposed increased flexibility: survey results

The consultation states that ‘there is evidence that high-earning clinicians, particularly consultants and GPs, are managing their annual allowance tax liability by reducing their workload, turning down extra responsibilities and/or retiring early.’ This is having an adverse impact on service delivery. As a result, the proposals are targeted at clinicians who are both:

• registered health care professionals and

• can demonstrate a reasonable expectation that their prospective NHS commitments   would result in pension growth exceeding their annual allowance.

Among other questions, the consultation asks whether the proposals should be made available to other categories of staff or all staff working in the NHS. It is asking for evidence to support any response. The HFMA’s survey was intended to provide evidence to frame the Association’s response as a representative body of staff who do not fall into the target group.