Nurses not happy at raising pension age, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 13 Mar 2005 - 10:00 PDT


The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is currently consulting its members on the proposals to modernise and review NHS Pensions.

There has been an unprecedented response from members and early soundings indicate clear opposition to the proposals to impose a new pension age of 65.

RCN general secretary Beverly Malone said: "RCN members sympathise with local government colleagues. They also totally opposed an increase in the retirement age to 65. Our members have said they understand that some nurses may want to work beyond 60 but this should be voluntary and not compulsory. They are concerned that 65 is too old an age to expect people to deliver care - they say even now many nurses are not able to continue to work until 60."

The RCN council meets on 30 March 2005 and will consider the next steps. No actions have currently been ruled out.

Notes to editors:

1.The Normal Pension Age in the NHS Scheme is 60. There are currently three retirement ages for nurses.

-- Nurses who joined the NHS Pension scheme before 1995 (known as special classes) have a pension age of 55 without any reductions

-- Nurses who joined the scheme before 1995 and who have Mental Health Office Status (MHO) have a pension age of 55 AND every year of pensionable service after 20 years is doubled (i.e. they can draw a full pension a age 55 after 30 years service rather than 40 years)

-- All nurses who joined the scheme after 1995 have a pension age of 60.

2 The average NHS pension after 18 years service is £5,400 pa

3 Research evidence shows that while there is no constraint on nurses working beyond their retirement age, relatively few choose to do so and growing numbers are choosing early retirement (Nurses over 50: options, decisions, outcomes (July 2003) Joseph Rowntree Foundation).

4 Historically the special rights to early retirement without actuarial reduction were introduced in recognition of the special demands of the work. These demands have not changed. Work commissioned by the Department of Health (Stress amongst staff in the NHS Trusts August 1998 by Institute of Work Psychology at University of Sheffield and the Psychological Therapies Research Centre, University of Leeds) showed that stress levels among NHS staff were higher than for British employees generally. (26.6% compared with 18.4%). For nurses the incidence was 40% higher than their comparison group (associate professional and technical occupations) in the general population.

For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit rcn.org.uk/news/mediacentre.php

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.

This is a press release from the Royal College of Nursing.

• Additional
• References
• Citations