Paul Bromley, SoR's regional officer for London, provides an update on NHS pensions...
The NHS Pension Review Final Agreement contained the following statement: 'There will be a choice exercise in which members will be given a choice to move to the New NHS Pension Scheme…This choice will be for past and future pensionable service only (including any prior service not yet aggregated).
'The basis of the transfer, including the treatment of those with added years contracts, is yet to be agreed but will be determined by the Secretary of State in the light of future negotiations under the governance framework.'
These negotiations are now concluded, and the arrangements for the choice exercise have been agreed, endorsed by the staff council, and signed off by the Secretary of State. All NHS employees will be receiving an information leaflet with their May payslip.
Before UK roll out commences the governance group has agreed to engage an Acute Trust and Primary Care Trust to act as early adopters for the choice exercise in July 2009; Yeovil Foundation Trust and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT have confirmed that they will be the early adopter sites.
The governance group and NHS Pensions are working closely with these organisations to pull together detailed plans to support the early adopters implementation and in particular when established the CHOICE support team will be available within the location to support these employers and local trades unions with awareness sessions, data and distribution issues.
For more information visit the NHS pensions website.
