Government’s pension proposals won’t stop doctors reducing hours, says BMA

The BMA has called the government’s plans to make the NHS pension scheme more workable for senior doctors a “sticking plaster” that will not stop doctors cutting back their hours or prevent them from retiring early.

In August the government set out plans to widen the options available in the NHS pension scheme,1 to encourage the most highly paid doctors in England and Wales not to reduce their hours for tax reasons.

Current pension and tax rules, introduced in 2016, can lead doctors to avoid taking on extra work for fear of being hit by substantial tax charges.

The new …