The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a consultation on proposed amendments to the NHS Pension Scheme, as part of its efforts to ensure it continues to help the NHS attract and retain the staff needed to deliver high-quality care for patients.

The proposed changes, which are expected to come into effect from April 2025, would retrospectively amend the definition of overtime in the 2015 scheme to be pensionable up to whole-time equivalent hours.

However, the consultation confirmed that the DHSC is not planning to offer contribution refunds to members who pensioned their additional hours worked between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2024.

The DHSC is also looking to clarify the method for calculating member contributions where pay reduces during a period of absence, and amend the regulations regarding general practitioner (GP) and non-GP provider annual certificates of pensionable profit.

The changes would also allow members who are affected by the McCloud remedy to revoke a deferred choice election or for a deferred choice election to lapse in certain circumstances.

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