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Study Says NHS Doctor Pensions Could Hit £125,000 a Year, Stirring Debate With Striking Juniors

Unions call the figure unrealistic, saying doctors are fighting over pay, training places, workload.

Overview

  • Quilter’s analysis for The Times estimates a doctor starting training in 2025, working full time to consultant level for about 40 years, could receive an annual pension of roughly £124,363.
  • The 2015 NHS scheme credits 1.85% of pay each year and revalues benefits by inflation plus 1.5%, with no cap on years of accrual.
  • BMA pensions chair Dr Vishal Sharma criticized the projection as highly misleading for assuming uninterrupted full‑time careers that many doctors do not have.
  • NHS chief Sir James Mackey said services operated at about 95% during the recent five‑day resident doctors’ strike and participation was lower than in previous rounds.
  • Advisers report widespread missing pension records, and IFS research finds little evidence that pension generosity alone improves recruitment or retention compared with pay and training pressures.