Consultation on proposed reforms to the pension system of the NHS has been begun

As the government starts a fresh consultation today, crucial NHS pension improvements for retired and partly retired NHS personnel might be extended to make it simpler for them to return to the workforce or continue helping the health system over the winter (Sunday 28 August 2022).

These actions will aid in bolstering and supporting the personnel in anticipation of a potentially difficult winter, during which we anticipate an increase in the number of individuals requesting checks. Thus, we are making measures that will put the health system in the best possible position to combat the demands and eliminate the Covid backlogs.

Certain retire and return regulations of the pension system have been suspended as of March 2020 to let retired employees to return to work or extend their working hours without having their pension benefits revoked.

The measures are presently scheduled to expire on 31 October 2022, and the consultation will solicit public and stakeholder feedback on whether or not to extend them until 31 March 2023.

This would enable trained and experienced personnel who have stepped forward to assist the system to continue working for the NHS over the potentially hard next winter season, reducing system pressures and aiding in the elimination of Covid backlogs.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

“The country is hugely thankful to all the retired staff who returned to support the NHS and the public during the pandemic. This winter will be challenging too and we are putting in place the necessary preparations to support the NHS while it continues to deliver first-rate care to patients.

“As part of this we are now consulting on extending temporary changes to the NHS pension scheme, which have so far allowed highly-skilled retired staff to return to the workforce without having their pension benefits affected.”

After a lifetime of service caring for the nation’s health, the NHS pension scheme provides considerable retirement benefits to its diligent employees.

The government is dedicated to expanding and supporting the NHS workforce, with over 4,100 more physicians and 9,600 more nurses compared to last year, and is on course to meet its campaign promise of having 50,000 more nurses by 2024, with 29,000 more nurses already. In addition, the government has commissioned NHS England to produce a long-term workforce strategy to recruit and support employees as they provide patients with high-quality, safe treatment.

To prepare for upcoming pressures, the government is working closely and quickly with the NHS to increase capacity, bolster NHS 111 and 999 support with at least 4,800 staff working in 111 call rooms and 2,500 in 999 call rooms, combat delayed discharge, and use new innovations such as virtual wards by creating the equivalent of at least 7,000 more beds.

NHS England and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care have recently outlined strategies to manage winter challenges. In addition, he has launched a taskforce to increase the recruitment of international staff into critical roles across the system, along with recruiting and retaining more doctors and nurses, so that staff can continue their work of busting the Covid backlogs, having virtually eliminated waits of over two years as part of the Elective Recovery Plan – supported by record investment.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation (which includes NHS Employers), said:

“The NHS will need all of the help it can get this winter and so, we are pleased the Government will be consulting on ways to provide support to the NHS’s workforce by encouraging recent and partial retirees back to the frontline.

“This is not the only action that it is needed to respond to the rising demand for healthcare services but leaders hope it will help. On behalf of our members, we look forward to providing views in the consultation.”