'Boomerang' physiotherapists opting to return to NHS work on reduced hours after retirement
Physiotherapists are among hordes of NHS workers who had second thoughts after retiring two years ago and returned to practice 12 months later, according to figures released by NHS England today (23 October).
An analysis of NHS workforce data uncovered a ‘retire and return rate’ of 37 per cent during the last year – with 12,800 out of 34,500 members of staff who retired in the 12 months up to June 2022 returning to work within the following 12 months.
The increase is linked to an extension to changes in the pension rules that were first introduced in 2020. This means that staff with the reserved right to retire at age 55 – such physiotherapists, nurses, midwives, and health visitors – can now retire and return to the NHS without it affecting their pension, even if they work full time.
Since 1 April 2023, they can also opt to re-join the NHS pension scheme and build-up pensions further, if they so desire. Data were taken from the NHS Electronic Staff Record, meaning that figures from staff in primary care settings were not included.
NHS England has told NHS organisations to offer staff flexible working options for every role. Staff who retire and return to practice tend to do so on reduced hours: nurses reduced their hours by roughly a third, while staff overall cut their hours by a fifth on returning to practice.
The increase is linked to an extension to changes in the pension rules that were first introduced in 2020. This means that staff with the reserved right to retire at age 55 – such physiotherapists, nurses, midwives, and health visitors – can retire and return to the NHS without it impacting their pension, even if they work full time.
Since 1 April 2023, they can also opt to re-join the pension scheme and build further pension if they so desire. Data were taken from the NHS Electronic Staff Record, meaning that figures from staff in primary care settings were not included, NHS England acknowledge.
NHS England has made it mandatory for NHS organisations to offer staff flexible working options for every role. Staff who retire and return to practice tend to do so on reduced hours: nurses reduced their hours by roughly a third, while staff overall cut their hours by a fifth on returning to practice.
Those aged from 55 to 59 are more likely to retire and return than those aged over 60. Almost half (48 per cent) of all NHS staff who retired at ages 55 to 59 later returned to work.
The retire and return arrangements help the NHS to retain highly experienced staff for longer, which supports colleagues and patients and also helps the NHS realise the ambitions laid out in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan [Navina Evans, NHS England]
The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan year predicted that changes to the pension scheme to allow more staff to return to work after retirement (alongside improved flexible working options and better opportunities for career development) could mean that up to 130,000 staff would decide to continue working in the NHS for longer stretches over the next 15 years.
Since 1 October 2023, a new ‘partial retirement’ option has been available to staff as an alternative to full retirement. Subject to a reduction in pensionable pay, staff can now draw down some or all their pension whilst continuing to work and build up further pension.
Staff want more flexibility towards the end of their careers
Navina Evans, NHS England’s chief workforce, training and education officer, said: ‘The NHS is hugely grateful to staff who have given years of service to care and treat patients and we recognise their skills and experience as being massively beneficial to the healthcare service. However, we understand that as people approach the end of their careers, they want to enjoy a higher degree of flexibility in their working life.’
Dr Evans added: ‘The retire and return arrangements help the NHS to retain highly experienced staff for longer, which supports colleagues and patients and also helps the NHS realise the ambitions laid out in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.’
Health Minister Will Quince said: ‘Our hardworking NHS staff benefit from one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK. These figures are testament to the changes the government has made to make the scheme more flexible for staff later in their careers – meaning more can choose to continue treating patients and helping to tackle the backlogs, one of the government’s top five priorities.’
Author: Ian A McMillan
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