Two thirds of surgeons have cut their hours

As waiting times rise, a new YouGov survey has revealed that 69 per cent of consultant surgeons have cut their hours because of NHS pensions ‘tax trap’.

Commissioned by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the results show that 68 per cent of consultant surgeons are considering early retirement because of the pensions tax situation, while just less than that, 64 per cent, have been advised to work fewer hours in the NHS following recent changes in pension taxation rules to avoid ‘crippling and unpredictable’ tax bills.

In total, 69 per cent of consultant surgeons have reduced the amount of time they have spent working in the NHS as a direct result of changes to pension taxation rules. Furthermore, one in three consultant surgeons have been advised to retire early.

The Royal College of Surgeons is now urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to further commit on his Summer pledge to resolve the NHS pensions ‘tax trap’, before winter arrives.  Amid record waiting times, currently standing at a record 4.41 million, the college warns that patients will face even longer waits this winter if the government doesn’t take swift action. In August 2019, more than 660,000 patients were waiting more than 18 weeks to start treatment, including surgery.  

Derek Alderson, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: “As our survey findings emphasise, the impact of pension tax rule changes on waiting times for surgery are devastating. Surgeons who have previously done many hours of extra work to help reduce waits, are cutting back their hours. Many are considering early retirement.  

“Patients already face overly long waits for operations. Persisting with a tax system that punishes clinicians for taking on extra work, will undoubtedly lead to a further deterioration in waiting times.”