Pensions dispute leads to surge in NHS waiting lists

Following new pension rules in 2016 which led to unexpected tax bills, consultants have started to refuse to work additional hours, which has led to waiting lists for routine surgery rising to up to 50 per cent.

As a result, NHS trusts have said delays are becoming increasingly routine.

From 2016, consultants who earn in excess of £110,000 a year faced new limits on how much they could contribute to their pension. Intricate rules mean the tax charges could be unpredictable if the allowance is exceeded.

Those consultants who are approaching the threshold have few options to avoid the impact, other than taking early retirement, quitting the NHS pension scheme or reducing their hours.

NHS Providers, the organisation which represents hospital trusts, reported that senior staff were saying they could not afford to bring waiting lists down by working weekends and extended hours. They added that a solution is needed urgently and that the government is moving too slowly.

The Department of Health have said they were planning on solving the problem with more flexible pensions, so that senior doctors would be able to reduce their contributions and avoid exceeding the allowance.

The British Medical Association’s Dr Rob Hawrood, said “No doctor wants to do anything but their best for their patients but if, in doing so, they face bills of tens of thousands of pounds, something has to change.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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