The Department for Health and Social Care confirms extension of NHS 'retire and return' rules

The rules - introduced for the Covid-19 pandemic and which had been due to expire at the end of October - will now be extended at least into 2023

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The commitment follows a consultation process, in which the CSP argued previous pension arrangements prevented the NHS from tapping into a valuable resource of experienced NHS staff that remain committed to high quality patient care. 

The now-extended rules allow retired members to return to the workplace without reducing or ceasing a pension already being claimed -  a development which the Society argued was in the interests of patients and NHS organisations alike.

Responding to their consultation, the government has announced:

  • the 16-hour rule will be suspended to 31 March 2023, with further proposals for its permanent removal from 1 April 2023
  • abatement of special class status members (1995 section) will be suspended to 31 March 2025
  • abatement of draw-down members of the 2008 section and 2015 scheme will be suspended to 31 March 2023.

Separately, national arrangements have been agreed for Scotland, that again better facilitate retired staff to return to healthcare roles.

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