11th April 2005

On behalf of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Healthcare Science I would like to present the response from our organisation to the NHS Pension Review proposals.

The Federation for Healthcare Science (www.fedhcs.net) is an overarching body representing the interests of more than 40 professional organisations working in health care. It provides a collective voice for the 50,000 scientists working in health care to the Government, other professions and members of the public. It works closely with individual professions, the Chief Scientific Officer and other groups to ensure Healthcare Scientists help take forward national policy, workforce and professional issues. A major role of the Federation is to articulate the collective views of its member organisations on matters that are significant for the practice of healthcare science in all its many and diverse forms within the health service. The Federation Executive therefore welcomes this opportunity to respond to the pension review proposals as we foresee significant impact on the healthcare science workforce and consequently on standards of delivery of scientific services across the NHS.

The Federation advises that:

1. A typical Healthcare Scientist has a long NHS career (a period of 40 years is not unusual) during which he/she progresses through a career pathway featuring a significant difference in final over starting salary. A final salary scheme would therefore be favoured and provide an extra incentive towards progression throughout the pathway. Furthermore, an option to retire at 60years of age is considered reasonable and appropriate after a period of 40 years given that the changes to working practice in healthcare science field are constant and highly demanding.

2. NHS Healthcare Science needs a pension scheme that is attractive (to help recruitment and retention) and so help maintain service standards - it must therefore be relatively simple to communicate and understand for those outside the scheme (eg, those considering a career in Healthcare Science).

3. Healthcare Scientists would look for facility to continue a NHS pension if working in the private sector (if delivering services for the NHS) and academia (see StLaR HR Strategy Phase 1 report, 2004).

4. The Healthcare Science workforce is highly specialised with relatively small numbers of individuals in some key roles. Furthermore, working as a 60-65 year old in a challenging and dynamic area of work such as healthcare science will be extremely challenging and potentially stressful for many individuals. A flexible HCS workforce is therefore particularly desirable so access to the more flexible options towards retirement described in the proposals would encourage individuals to stay within the workforce and benefit local scientific services.

5. A new career pathway for Healthcare Science in the NHS, due to be launched shortly by the Department of Health, will provide opportunities and encourage career development for individuals with aptitude to progress to the higher levels of responsibility (eg, as Consultant Healthcare Scientists). Similarly, NHS pension policy needs to encourage individuals to take on high level leadership positions (possibly towards the end of a career) that are essential for successful delivery of healthcare services. Therefore, a final salary scheme is preferred.

John Day CS
Member of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Healthcare Science

The Federation E-Newsletter will keep you posted of news and events.

Enter your email address in the form below to be added to the mailing list.

Unsubscribe here