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<p>Membership data from the NHS Pension Scheme shows the number of hospital doctors
and general practitioners (GPs) claiming their pension earlier than their normal pension
age.</p><p>Whilst the scheme does not require individuals to give reasons for claiming
their pension, the rise in voluntary early retirement rates coincides with reductions
in pension tax allowances over the same period. The annual and lifetime allowances
limit the amount by which an individual can grow their pension tax-free each year
and in total. There is emerging evidence that pension tax may be a factor in doctors
deciding to retire early or limit their National Health Service commitments. There
are of course other factors, such as workload.</p><p>The Government is alive to the
issues raised by senior clinicians, and keeps the impact of public sector pay and
pensions policies under constant review, taking account of total reward and fiscal
considerations.</p><p>The following table shows the number of hospital doctors and
GPs claiming their NHS Pension on a voluntary early retirement basis from the 1995
NHS Pension Scheme.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Scheme Year</p></td><td><p>Hospital
Doctors</p></td><td><p>GPs</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>315</p></td><td><p>513</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>387</p></td><td><p>591</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>406</p></td><td><p>746</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>453</p></td><td><p>739</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>494</p></td><td><p>695</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>490</p></td><td><p>721</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>424</p></td><td><p>588</p></td></tr></tbody></table>
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