NHS doctors' pensions liabilities

• A new NHS contract in 2004 resulted in increased profits for many medical practitioners.
• The rates for uplifting earlier years’ pay also increased pension funds.
• General practitioners could contribute up to 29% of pensionable pay to their pension fund.
• There have been long delays and omissions in updating pension information.
• In extreme circumstances the annual allowance charge could exceed normal net pay.
• The NHS is consulting on increased pensions flexibility but will this lead to more complication?

There has been much press coverage recently on how National Health Service doctors are cutting back their work commitments to avoid pension tax charges. This involves both general practitioners (GPs) and hospital consultants. While I and others in the specialist sector have been talking about this for years – initially for the problems it was causing GPs – it seems remarkable how much more pressure is being levied by unions and other trade...