Representatives at the BMA’s annual policy-making conference have condemned pensions administration failings that are impacting doctors’ abilities to make important decisions about their future and current workload.
A motion proposed by the BMA’s Gateshead Division1 highlighted that inaccurate pensions records limit doctors’ abilities to file accurate tax returns, and that the complexity of taxation rules mean they are forced to reduce clinical hours to avoid facing financial penalties.
The motion, passed by representatives in Brighton, further urged “the UK Government and devolved administrations to urgently resolve the NHS pension crisis, ensure accurate pension records, and provide fair compensation to doctors harmed by this administrative failure”.
BMA pensions committee chair Dr Vishal Sharma said:
“We’ve been clear for years that NHS pension administration failures are a complete scandal that threaten doctors’ financial and career planning, workforce retention and ultimately, the time that we are able to offer patients – something again articulated in this motion.
“This misadministration is the result of a combination of failures across agencies such as NHS BSA, NHS England and, in the case of GPs in England, Capita.
“We’re committed to ending this scandal, and in the last couple of years have been engaging with and holding to account the various pension scheme administrators across the UK. We have reported scheme providers to the Pensions Regulator, lobbied Government officials and MPs, and will continue to explore all regulatory and legal avenues to solve this.
“It’s paramount that the entire NHS pension farce is addressed once and for all, and that no doctor should suffer any detriment as a result of repeated administrative failings that lay completely outside of their control.”
Ends
Notes to editors
The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.
1. The motion wording in full:
Motion by GATESHEAD DIVISION: The BMA pensions committee has highlighted severe administrative failures by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), with over 18,100 GPs (51%) missing critical pension records, resulting in inaccurate tax statements. A Freedom of Information request submitted by Wesleyan revealed that 300,062 retired members are still awaiting recalculated pensions. That this meeting:-
i) states that incorrect information contained in Remedial Pension Savings Statements (RPSS) for 2023-24 is completely unacceptable, and undermines doctors’ ability to file accurate tax returns;
ii) affirms that the complexity of Annual Allowance taxation rules prevents doctors from accurately predicting tax liability, forcing many to reduce clinical work to avoid financial penalties, thereby limiting NHS patient access;
iii) believes that the McCloud remedy delays, punitive and complex Annual Allowance taxation, and ongoing widespread missing pension data are causing financial distress and severely affecting recruitment and retention of doctors;
iv) calls on HMRC to grant a 12-month extension for doctors to file completed tax returns, recognising the NHSBSA’s failure to provide accurate and timely pension data;
v) urges the UK Government and devolved administrations to urgently resolve the NHS pension crisis, ensure accurate pension records, and provide fair compensation to doctors harmed by this administrative failure.
CARRIED IN FULL