NHS agreement

A new NHS agreement on managing sickness absence and ill health retirement was implemented last month. It is the result of two years’ partnership working between NHS unions and employers and introduces a two-tier payment system of ill-health retirement benefits. These are based on whether or not the individual has some likelihood of being able to work again.

Senior negotiating officer for the CSP physiotherapists’ union Elaine Sparkes said the new arrangements will “support staff to continue working wherever possible, but also ensure that staff can easily access appropriate benefits should they need to retire on health grounds”.