Gov Attempt To Resuscitate NHS Pension Deal

The Government is to put forward a revised pension deal for NHS workers that could see the lowest paid taken out of the higher contributions.

Nurses on low professional pay grades along with health staff earning under £26,500 will be protected from the rise, the Department of Health is expected to say.

However, the leaked, revised deal is also believed to propose a shifting of responsibility onto the shoulders of higher paid staff, including Doctors, Matrons and surgical staff.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said it believed the current government pensions offer was "deeply unfair", although it acknowledged the latest proposal was a "modest improvement".

Dr Meldrum said: "All doctors would pay a lot more, and most would have to work longer for a worse deal over retirement under the current proposals. Those at the start of their careers face paying up to £200,000 more over their lifetimes, and working until they are 68."

The news comes as the BMA launched a drive to inform doctors about the controversial pension changes before it publishes the results of a UK-wide survey on the proposals.

The initiative, called ‘Your pension. Your future. Your say’ aims to ensure as many doctors and medical students as possible are aware of, and understand, the government’s NHS pension scheme changes, and how it will affect them.

The BMA said the campaign will also prepare members to have their say on the outcome of negotiations with the government through a BMA survey, which is expected to be sent out in the New Year.

A ballot on industrial action could follow soon afterwards, the union said.

BMA council chairman Hamish Meldrum said: "Ensuring doctors are able to have their say on their pensions is an urgent priority. Major changes to the NHS pension scheme are already underway. They will have implications for all doctors and medical students, for many years to come."

(DW)