Request

Please could you answer the below queries on the NHS pension scheme including April 2022 to date running totals.

Question 1.For all members - on a monthly basis, since Year end 2008,

a) how many members have retired,

b) of those, how many retired on a voluntary early retirement basis

Question 2.For the each of the sub groups; Consultants, GPs, Dental Practitioners - on a monthly basis, since Year end 2008,

a) how many members have retired,

b) of those, how many retired on a voluntary early retirement basis

Question 3.For all members - on a monthly basis, since Year end 2008,

a) how many members have opted out of the scheme

Question 4. For the each of the sub groups; Consultants, GPs, Dental Practitioners – on a monthly basis, since Year end 2008,

a) how many members have opted out of the scheme

On 27 April 2022, you clarified the following:

Thanks for your email and the different definitions of opt outs. We would class all as opt outs, however it would be very useful to break those numbers down into the differentiated categories that you have identified. We appreciate that members can opt out multiple times.

We also appreciate the subgroup categorisations of GP, GDP, Hospital Doctor, Hospital Dentist and the priority order you mention, as well accepting your definition of first payment of award. We amend our request to reflect those.

Therefore, please amend our request to:

Please could you answer the below queries on the NHS pension scheme including April 2022 to date running totals.

Question 1.For all members - on a monthly basis, since Year end 2008, a) how many members have retired,

b) of those, how many retired on a voluntary early retirement basis

Question 2.For the each of the sub groups; GPs, GDP, Hospital Doctor, Hospital Dentist - on a monthly basis, since Year end 2008,

a) how many members have retired,

b) of those, how many retired on a voluntary early retirement basis

Question 3. For all members - on a monthly basis, since Year end 2008,

a) how many members have opted out of the scheme within each of the separate categorizations below:

• Member opts out in period – we’ve had no contact since

• Member opts out in period, but has since returned now actively contributing

• Member opts out in period, but has since returned, though that service has been pensioned

• Member opts out in period, but has since returned, and that service is now deferred

• Member opts out in period, but has since returned, accrued some more service, and opted out again (currently opted out, or returned again)

• Member opts out in period from one post, but remained contributing in another concurrently (technically this isn’t allowed, but I know there are a miniscule amount of scenarios)

Question 4. For the each of the sub groups; GPs, GDP, Hospital Doctor, Hospital Dentist - on a monthly basis, since Year end 2008,

a) how many members have opted out of the scheme’ using the same categorizations identified in 3)

Response

Fewer Than 5 Pension Members

Please be aware that I have decided not to release figures where the total number of members falls below 5. This is because the members could be identified, when combined with other information that may be in the public domain or reasonably available.

This information falls under the exemption in section 40 subsections 2 and 3A (a) of the Freedom of Information Act.

This is because it would breach the first data protection principle as:

a) it is not fair to disclose members’ personal details to the world and is likely to cause damage or distress.

b) these details are not of sufficient interest to the public to warrant an intrusion into the privacy of the members.

Please click the below web link to see the exemption in full.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/40

Breach of Pension Member confidentiality

Please note that the identification of members is also a breach of the common law duty of confidence. A member who has been identified could make a claim against the NHSBSA or yourself for the disclosure of the confidential information.

The information requested is therefore being withheld as it falls under the exemption in section 41(1) ‘Information provided in confidence’ of the Freedom of Information Act.

Please click the below web link to see the exemption in full.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/41

Remaining Data

A copy of the information is attached.

As advised in our clarification email to you on 27 April 2022, groups have been arranged as follows:

• GP – Cap code 03,10 and employment type 5,6,9

• GDP – Cap code 08 and employment type 5,6,9

• Hospital Doctor – Cap code 03,10 and employment type 2,3

• Hospital Dentist – Cap code 08 and employment type 2,3

This will be based on the members entire employment history in the above priority order. This mean that if a member has a GP service they will be flagged as a GP, even if this is not their most recent service or if they are actively working as a hospital doctor.

Members can claim multiple awards at different times. For the purposes of this request the ‘month claimed’ will be the date the NHSBSA first started paying a pension, even if the member continued working and/or contributing to a different scheme to a later date.

Please note that this request and our response is published on our Freedom of Information disclosure log at:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-24418

Data Queries

If you have any queries regarding the data provided, or if you plan on publishing the data please contact dataandinsightsupport@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact nhsbsa.communicationsteam@nhs.net. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “Data source, NHSBSA Copyright 2022” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.