Pensions issue is anything but “sorted,” say doctors

Doctors are both unconvinced and baffled by government proposals announced last week to reform their pensions alongside public statements that their pension problems were now “sorted.”

Responding to an announcement by the new health and social care secretary for England on 22 September, the BMA said the measures offered only “sticking plasters” to the challenge of stemming the flow of doctors from the NHS. They would not prevent doctors from reducing their working hours or retiring early, as thousands have recently done to avoid punitive taxes on their pensions, the BMA said.

Many doctors have refused to recognise the measures as they were not …