ABSTRACT
The government has approved general medical practitioner practice staff entering the NHS pension scheme. Major changes in the NHS pension scheme take effect from 6 March 1995 in England and Wales, from 1 April 1995 in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Members taking voluntary early retirement cannot rejoin the NHS pension scheme if they subsequently return to NHS work. A pension can be built up in the new job through a personal pension plan. The term 'modification' refers to the fact that the NHS pension of some members was reduced by a small amount to take account of a period prior to 1980 when people paid a reduced or 'modified' contribution to their occupational pension schemes. Trust employers are able to make contributions to additional voluntary and free-standing additional voluntary contribution plans on behalf of employees, so that they may build up additional pension benefits at no cost to themselves.
