Changes to the NHS pension scheme have been proposed, which could allow retired staff to retain pension benefits if they return to the workforce.

The idea behind the plans is to boost the NHS workforce ahead of winter and help beat the Covid backlogs.

Some retire and return rules in the NHS pension scheme have been suspended since March 2020, to enable retired staff to return to work, without having their pension benefits suspended. The current measures are set to run until 31 October 2022. The consultation will look for feedback from the public and stakeholders on whether to extend these measure to 31 March 2023.

The is to enable staff to work through the upcoming winter period, to ease pressures on the system and tackle backlogs.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: "The country is hugely thankful to all the retired staff who returned to support the NHS and the public during the pandemic.

"This winter will be challenging too and we are putting in place the necessary preparations to support the NHS while it continues to deliver first-rate care to patients.

"As part of this we are now consulting on extending temporary changes to the NHS pension scheme, which have so far allowed highly-skilled retired staff to return to the workforce without having their pension benefits affected."

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