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| NHS waiting lists surge due to pensions row | NHS waiting lists surge due to pensions row |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Waiting lists for routine surgery have risen by up to 50% in England because senior doctors say they cannot afford to work extra shifts. | |
| Consultants have begun refusing to work beyond their planned hours after receiving unexpected tax bills, following new pension rules in 2016. | Consultants have begun refusing to work beyond their planned hours after receiving unexpected tax bills, following new pension rules in 2016. |
| NHS hospitals said delays are becoming increasingly routine as a result. | NHS hospitals said delays are becoming increasingly routine as a result. |
| The Department of Health said it aimed to solve the problem with more flexible pensions. | The Department of Health said it aimed to solve the problem with more flexible pensions. |
| Consultants who earn more than £110,000 a year faced new limits on how much they could contribute to their pension from 2016. Complex rules mean the charges can be unpredictable if they go over the allowance. | Consultants who earn more than £110,000 a year faced new limits on how much they could contribute to their pension from 2016. Complex rules mean the charges can be unpredictable if they go over the allowance. |
| But those near the threshold have have few options to avoid the impact, other than reducing their hours, quitting the NHS pension scheme or taking early retirement. | But those near the threshold have have few options to avoid the impact, other than reducing their hours, quitting the NHS pension scheme or taking early retirement. |
| NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said senior staff were now saying they could not afford to work at weekends to bring waiting lists down. | NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said senior staff were now saying they could not afford to work at weekends to bring waiting lists down. |
| A senior anaesthetist at one hospital worked 27 Saturdays last year to reduce waiting times but now cannot afford to, the organisation said. | A senior anaesthetist at one hospital worked 27 Saturdays last year to reduce waiting times but now cannot afford to, the organisation said. |
| Another hospital has seen numbers waiting for routine surgery increase by 50% since April, with staffing issues due to the pensions problem partly to blame. | Another hospital has seen numbers waiting for routine surgery increase by 50% since April, with staffing issues due to the pensions problem partly to blame. |
| The Guardian reported that the Royal Bournemouth Hospital has 53 sessions of surgery and 150 procedures uncovered between now and 27 July because no consultant anaesthetists are available. | The Guardian reported that the Royal Bournemouth Hospital has 53 sessions of surgery and 150 procedures uncovered between now and 27 July because no consultant anaesthetists are available. |
| NHS Providers said a solution is needed urgently and the government is moving too slowly. | NHS Providers said a solution is needed urgently and the government is moving too slowly. |
| The Department of Health said it wanted to make pensions more flexible, so senior doctors would be able to reduce their contributions and avoid breaching the allowance. | The Department of Health said it wanted to make pensions more flexible, so senior doctors would be able to reduce their contributions and avoid breaching the allowance. |