Maternity, paternity and adoption

Your rights during and after pregnancy

Read our advice on your rights as a pregnant woman, including health and safety at work, time off for antenatal appointments, and sickness during pregnancy.

Adoption and surrogacy

This page provides information on rights for adoptive and surrogate parents.

Your contract during maternity leave

Read about your contractual rights during paid and unpaid maternity leave and on university or NHS contracts. Find out how maternity leave affects your training if you have a fixed, training, or rotational training contract.

Maternity leave for GPs

This page explains maternity leave entitlements for GP principals, GP registrars and salaried GPs.

Maternity leave checklist

Prepare for maternity leave with our checklist of what you need to do and who you need to contact at work, outside work, and after your baby arrives.

Shared parental leave

SPL (Shared parental leave) is a statutory right which provides eligible parents with more flexibility in how they share the care of their child in the first year following birth or adoption.

Continuous service and maternity leave under the NHS scheme

This page explains the continuous service requirements for maternity leave eligibility that apply under the NHS Scheme.

Maternity entitlements on NHS and non-NHS contracts

Read our guidance about maternity entitlements for doctors on NHS contracts with national terms and conditions, and doctors outside the NHS scheme.

Paternity leave for doctors

This page explains your rights to paternity leave as a new father.

Maternity leave calculator

Our maternity leave calculator is for members across the UK. It helps to ensure you do not miss any important dates for notifying your employer you are pregnant and your entitlement to maternity leave and pay.

Your maternity leave entitlements under the NHS scheme

Read our guidance on maternity leave entitlements for doctors across the UK working under the NHS scheme.

Statutory maternity pay

Read our guidance on the rules surrounding maternity pay and details of the allowances available.

Returning to work and your rights as a working parent

Guidance for doctors on returning to work, changing hours, flexible working, breastfeeding, parental leave, and what to do if you’re not planning to work. You can also read real-life stories from working medical parents.