Other UK News In Brief

Increased Retirement Age For NHS 'Unacceptable'

The final report of Lord Hutton’s Independent Public Service Pension Commission recommends linking the retirement age in most public sector pension schemes to the state pension age, and replacing final salary schemes.

 Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of Council at the British Medical Association (BMA) said: “An increase to the retirement age for NHS staff would be unacceptable. Doctors in their late twenties who had expected to retire at 60 could now have to work to the state retirement age of 68. Such a sudden leap is particularly unfair given that NHS staff signed up to a significantly revised pension scheme only three years ago. Working with colleagues in health and other public services we will study the proposals in detail and will be seeking urgent talks with NHS Employers and the government on any further changes to the NHS pension.”

 Dr Andrew Dearden, Chairman of the BMA’s Pensions Committee, said:

 “While there is some reassurance that the pension rights NHS staff have built up over their careers will be protected, we have serious reservations about moves away from a final salary scheme, and will want to look closely at the details of any career average scheme. However, it should be remembered that following a major overhaul in 2008, the NHS scheme is appropriate, fair to both staff and taxpayers, and already subject to rigorous governance and safeguards. A cost-sharing scheme protects the taxpayer from future cost increases, and the contributions paid by members currently provide a surplus to the Treasury.”


Support Centres For Rape Victims To Open

Four new centres offering support for victims of rape and sexual violence are set to open. The centres are funded by the Ministry of Justice and will be located in Hereford, Trafford, Dorset and Devon. The announcement is part of the government's commitment to increase rape support centres across England and Wales and ensure victims who need the most help get it. The £600,000 funding will allow the new centres to help victims get their lives back on track by providing specialist services. Minister Crispin Blunt said: “Rape and sexual violence are devastating crimes which ruin lives. By providing long-term funding for new rape support centres, the government is demonstrating its commitment to ensure that every victim receives the specialist support they need to rebuild their lives."

'Life Begins At 40' Campaign A Waste Of Money, Says Doctors



Doctors at the Scottish annual GP conference voted unanimously that the Scottish Government’s campaign, Life begins at 40, is a waste of money. 
The doctors, who represent GPs from across Scotland, agreed that the campaign does nothing to address inequalities and uses money that is required elsewhere within the health service. 

Dr Steve Haigh, a GP from Lothian, said: 
“In the present financial climate, the Life Begins at 40 campaign in Scotland is not a good use of public money. This project encourages people over 40 to check on their health by accessing an online questionnaire or speaking to an NHS 24 advisor to receive individually targeted health information. Surely the same is already available online and in every pharmacy and GP surgery across the country.

 As we have just seen at this conference, yes we need to prevent illness, but randomly targeting this age set is not the answer."

(BMcN)