Pensions Day Of Action - British Medical Association Prepares

Editor's Choice
Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 08 Nov 2011 - 10:00 PST


Doctors wanting to show their support for the 30 November Day of Action on public sector pensions are provided with new campaign resources issued by the BMA entitled 'Fair Treatment for NHS Pensions'. The BMA has launched an online campaign toolkit to encourage doctors to use the press and social media to voice their concerns.

Although the BMA sees the Treasury's latest announcement as a possible step in the right direction in terms of the government's willingness to negotiate, the fact remains clear that doctors would still pay substantially more and work longer for an inferior pension.

Even though the BMA will offer continuing support for the Day of Action, it is not balloting doctors on industrial action at this stage. 



After encouraging its members to submit responses to the Department of Health's recent consultation in England and Wales on contribution increases the BMA noted that approximately 9,000 submissions were received mainly from doctors and medical students. The BMA continues to encourage doctors and students in Scotland and Northern Ireland to participate in ongoing consultations in their respective area.

In 2008 the NHS pension scheme underwent a radical overhaul. The outcome was that the retirement age for new staff was increased, everyone apart from the lowest paid experienced a substantial increase in contributions and the introduction of a new system protecting taxpayers against future increasing costs. The 2008 scheme provides the government with a net flow of money that will bring in more than £10 billion to the Treasury over the next five years.

The government's proposal translates into a further sharp rise in contributions for NHS staff regardless of its recent announcement, meaning that many younger doctors will have to pay over £200,000 extra over their working lives. Even though those close to retirement would benefit from the new transitional arrangements proposed by the government, the majority would still have to work longer to receive a much lesser pension because of the proposed switch from the current final salary scheme to a career average scheme involving increased contribution rates and a higher retirement age.

Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of Council at the BMA, declared: 


"It is only three years since NHS staff agreed to major changes to their pensions. Yet under the current proposals - despite the recent announcement - most NHS staff would pay much more and work longer for a much worse deal on retirement. The fact is that the NHS pension scheme is not only sustainable in the long term - it is currently delivering very significant sums to the government. These plans aren't about the affordability of the current scheme - they're about the Treasury looking for a quick hit on public sector workers."


Written by Petra Rattue
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

• Additional
• References
• Citations