Navigating maternity pay can be a complex process, especially within the NHS. It's crucial to understand the eligibility criteria and the benefits you're entitled to under the NHS maternity pay scheme. Here's a comprehensive breakdown to help you navigate through this important aspect of maternity leave.
Eligibility Criteria:
To qualify for NHS maternity pay, you need to meet the following criteria:
1. Continuous Employment: You must have completed 12 months of continuous employment with the NHS. This period doesn't necessarily have to be with the same employer but should have no breaks exceeding three months.
2. Timing: By the time you reach 11 weeks before your expected week of childbirth, you should meet the continuous employment requirement and comply with the NHS notice requirements.
Understanding NHS Maternity Pay Structure:
Once you meet the eligibility criteria, you become entitled to a structured maternity pay scheme. Here's how it works:
1. Full Pay (8 Weeks): You'll receive eight weeks of full pay, which is subject to deduction for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Maternity Allowances.
2. Half-Pay (18 Weeks): Following the full pay period, you'll receive 18 weeks of half-pay, in addition to SMP and Maternity Allowances.
3. SMP or Maternity Allowance (13 Weeks): The final phase of maternity pay involves 13 weeks of receiving either SMP or Maternity Allowance. Maternity Allowance is paid at a fixed rate, which was £156.66 per week (April 2022 – April 2023) or 90% of your average earnings if lower.
Notification Requirements:
It's essential to adhere to the notification requirements set by the NHS. You must notify your employer at least 15 weeks before your due date. However, as a good practice, most individuals tend to inform their employers sooner, especially considering visible signs of pregnancy by that stage.
Final Thoughts:
Understanding the intricacies of NHS maternity pay is vital for expecting parents working within the NHS. By meeting the eligibility criteria and adhering to the notification requirements, you can ensure a smooth transition into maternity leave while availing of the benefits provided under the NHS maternity pay scheme.
In conclusion, navigating maternity pay within the NHS involves understanding eligibility criteria, the structure of maternity pay, and notification requirements. By being informed, expectant parents can make the most out of the benefits provided by their employer, ensuring a seamless transition into parenthood.
Reference - https://www.rcn.org.uk/Get-Help/RCN-advice/having-a-family#:~:text=It%20is%20likely%20you%20are,13%20weeks%20SMP
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One of the most important questions to consider when searching for an NHS job as a doctor is, 'What salaries do doctors receive in the UK?
The NHS is one of the most developed health systems in the world and international doctors form an integral part of delivering high quality patient care, as such they are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits.
In this short article we provide an overview of doctor's pay in the UK by grade, salary estimates are based on the NHS Doctor Salary pay scale.
It is important to note that the below rates of pay are a guide based on current NHS pay scales, and it is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the pay opportunities before you start applying for posts in the UK.
It is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on your experience and demand.
For overseas doctors, posts will include competitive rates of pay, additional pay for extra hours worked, benefits and pensions.
FY1 & FY2
In the most junior hospital trainee post of Foundation Year 1 (FY1), your basic salary is £32,398.
As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premia.
Specialty Training (ST1 – ST8)
If you are a doctor starting your specialist training, your basic salary starts at £43,923 and can progress to £63,152.
As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premia.
Specialty doctors
Specialty doctors currently earn from £52,530 to £82,400 basic pay.
The basic contract is for 40 hours.
Consultants
Consultants currently earn from £93,666 to £126,281 basic pay.
As a consultant you can be paid for additional duties and may be eligible for Clinical Excellence Awards, which reward outstanding performance. The basic contract is for 40 hours per week.
If you take on extra responsibilities (i.e. management or education) you can also expect to be paid additional supplements.
Pay and terms and conditions
Current national salary scales for medical and dental staff are published in pay and conditions circulars on the NHS Employers website.
Why not browse our live doctor jobs and check your doctor's salary in the UK.
You can find more overviews on doctor salary and pay conditions here.
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Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK
IMG Resources
Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
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Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss NHS opportunities for overseas, including a typical doctor's salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.
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In a landmark decision, the government agreed to an increase to the pay of NHS junior and senior doctors in England, based on the recommendation of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB).
This pay rise will equate to an increase of 6% for senior doctors i.e., consultants and SAS doctors, and for junior doctors, an agreed average pay increase of 6% with a one-off uplift of £1,250.
This pay increase is not only a testament to the power of the industrial action by NHS doctors over the past several months.
Whilst an acknowledgement of the efforts and hard work of NHS doctors, this pay increase fails to fully consider the rationale behind these strikes and the BMA’s calls for the UK government to fully restore pay to 2008-09 levels.
In contrast, strike action was suspended in Scotland, following a 12.4% pay offer from the Scottish government.
Whilst the Scottish pay offer is a move in the right direction, IMG Connect remains fully in support of doctors taking part in industrial action. The decision to go on strike is not taken lightly, but is a fundamental right of doctors who want to protect the NHS and its ability to provide quality care to patients and our communities, whilst also ensuring their work and wellbeing are properly valued and compensated.
Sources
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-staff-receive-pay-rise
https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p1624
For more information on working in the NHS or how this pay increase will affect you as an NHS doctor or IMG, contact us at info@imgconnect.co.uk.
Getting to grips with the different titles given to doctors in the UK can be difficult, not least because they may differ from those used in other countries and there may be several titles to describe a certain role.
It is important for overseas doctors to have a working knowledge of the different doctor titles in the UK in order to understand how their experience may translate to the UK in terms of seniority of roles as well as the pay they may be entitled to.
In this blog we will be breaking down all the different names given to UK doctors (both in and out of training), clarifying the meaning of these terms to paint a clearer picture of designations in the NHS.
We will cover these titles within the following groups:
Doctors in Training
Doctors in non-Training Jobs
Broad Terms for UK Doctors
Doctors in Training
Doctors in GMC-approved training programmes have designations according to the period and specific year of their training – generally the abbreviation of the training, followed by a number.
Foundation Training
Other Titles / Designations: F1, F2, FY1, FY2, F3+, SHO, Junior Doctor, Trainee
These are doctors in a Foundation Programme, having graduated from medical school. In the UK, this is a 2-year programme equivalent to an internship.
During Year 1 of Foundation Training, doctors are referred to as F1/ FY1 and during Year 2, they are F2/ FY2.
Although Foundation Training lasts two years, doctors who may be unsure of which specialty to pursue may work in non-training jobs before applying to a training post. The naming structure for these roles is the same, depending on the years in their role.
Core Training
Other Titles / Designations: CT1, CT2, CT3, ST1, ST2, ST3, SHO, Junior Doctor, Trainee
These are doctors in Core Training who are at the initial stage of an ‘uncoupled’ training programme. An uncoupled training programme is one in which there is a break in training where doctors are required to apply to higher specialty training upon completion of core training. Core training usually lasts from two to three years.
For ‘run-through’ training programmes, doctors at ST1 would have come from Foundation Training and have automatic entry into higher specialty training through their initial application to ST1.
Specialty Training
Other Titles / Designations: ST3+, StR, SHO, Junior Doctor, Trainee
Higher specialty training generally begins at ST3/ ST4 and can go up to ST9 depending on the specialty.
The curriculum for each specialty will provide the typical training period, however this is indicative (doctors may take longer than this to complete their specialty training for any number of reasons).
SHO
The term SHO stands for Senior House Officer, less commonly known as a House Officer. This is an older term for a very junior doctor, typically equivalent to an F1/ F2, although the term can be used to describe doctors up to CT2 (up to higher specialty training).
Trainee
The term trainee can refer to any doctor in a training programme (generally from CT1 to ST9). These doctors may be referred to as residents in other countries. This can but does not generally include doctors in Foundation Training.
Doctors in non-Training Jobs
Doctors in non-training positions are often given titles which align with their training counterparts, so it’s easier to understand at what level they are practising, but there are no hard and fast rules.
SHO
Other Titles / Designations: Junior Clinical Fellow, Junior Doctor, Middle Grade
As with doctors in training, a non-training SHO would typically be equivalent to an F1/ F2, but it may be more common for a doctor not in training to have this title since an equivalent doctor in training would most likely be referred to as an F1/ F2.
Senior Clinical Fellow
Other Titles / Designations: Junior Doctor
This is a slightly confusing term which is usually for doctors at ST3+ level and generally have not completed a UK training programme. The role of these doctors often includes a combination of research and specialist clinical work.
SAS Doctor
Other Titles / Designations: Senior Doctor, Specialist
SAS stands for Staff grade, Associate Specialist, and Specialty Doctor. These doctors will have at least four years of full-time postgraduate training, two of which have been in their relevant specialty.
They are experienced and senior doctors in fixed term or permanent posts (outside a UK training programme) and can work across primary, community and inpatient care.
Many SAS doctors have made a positive choice to step into a SAS position from a traditional consultant training pathway. This could be for reasons such as geographical stability or wanting to familiarise themselves with the NHS system before working up to a consultant position.
Broader Terms
There are also several terms which may more broadly be used to describe a doctor's level.
Junior Doctor
This term can be used to describe anyone from F1 up to ST9These are qualified doctors in clinical training.
Registrar
Other Titles / Designations: SpR, Junior Doctor, Middle Grade
This is another slightly older term. Registrar or SpR (Specialty Registrars) refers to the main training grade where doctors are undertaking higher specialty training (this is the earliest you can specialise).
It can refer to both trainees and non-trainees and is generally equivalent to ST3 and above (doctors who have completed their foundation training but are still in training in a specialty area of medicine). This term is therefore commonly used to describe more senior trainees and generally aligns with its use overseas.
Senior Doctor
Other Titles / Designations: Specialist Grade, Specialty Doctor, Associate Specialist, GP, Consultant
As ‘junior doctor’ and ‘senior doctor’ are indicative of whether or not a doctor is in training, senior doctors are those able to practise independently – those working as a consultant, SAS doctor or GP.
Consultant
Other Titles / Designations: Senior Doctor
Consultants are senior doctors that have completed full medical training in a specialised area of medicine. They usually work in hospitals or community settings. They have clinical responsibilities and administrative responsibilities in managing SAS and junior doctors.
There are two types of consultants:
Substantive - These are consultant who have been appointed to the Specialist Register for their area of medicine by the GMC. These doctors will either have completed a GMC-approved training programme (CCT) or completed an application for CESR or CESR-CP. You can learn more about Specialist Registration for overseas doctors here.
Locum - These are consultants who are appointed into an equivalent consultant post but are not required to be on the Specialist Register. Locum consultants are unable to take up a permanent position (only fixed term). A locum consultant’s work tends to be more clinical, however there may also be teaching and management responsibilities involved. It is also important to distinguish between two types of locums here: Trust Locums and Agency Locums. As the name suggests, agency locums work with a private agency and will generally receive an hourly wage. Trust locums on the other hand are appointed by the NHS Trust themselves and will be on a fixed-term contract which can be renewed.
GP
GP stands for General Practitioner, and these are doctors who are responsible for the primary care of patients, covering illnesses and ailments across many specialist areas.
GPs are fully trained and are allowed to practice independently without supervision and all qualified GPs are listed on the GMC’s GP Register.
Unlike is often the case in overseas healthcare systems, general practitioners are not synonymous with doctors specialising in general medicine, so a general practitioner overseas may not necessarily have the same title in the UK.
Locum Doctor
These are doctors who are covering a role within a healthcare setting.
All doctors (aside from F1 doctors) can work as locums. Like all practising physicians, locum doctors are fully registered with, and regulated by, the GMC.
Sources
https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/international-doctors/life-and-work-in-the-uk/toolkit-for-doctors-new-to-the-uk/doctors-titles-explained
Hopefully, this article goes some way to demystify these terms and titles for international doctors interested in working in the UK. For more information including working in the NHS, doctors' benefits and salaries and how to register with the GMC, take a look through our IMG Resources library.
For international doctors looking to work in the UK, it is important to understand the salary you will be offered with your NHS job and how this can be different depending on the country you are working in within the UK.
The NHS follow pay guidelines that are used to fairly and uniformly determine consultant pay, however these do differ across countries in the UK.
What is an SAS doctor?
SAS stands for Staff grade, Associate Specialist, and Specialty Doctor. They will have at least four years of full-time postgraduate training, two of which have been in their relevant specialty.
They are experienced and senior doctors in fixed term or permanent posts (outside a training pathway).
Many SAS doctors have made a positive choice to step into a SAS position from a traditional consultant training pathway. This could be for reasons such as geographical stability or wanting to familiarise themselves with the NHS system before working up to a consultant position.
SAS doctors maintain their skills through the CPD system and there are routes, through gaining CESR (Specialist Registration) or applying for a training post, for SAS doctors to become consultants if they wish to.
Basic Pay
Specialist Grades and Specialty Doctors in England and the other home countries have their own contracts in place for senior doctors. These contracts are based on a full-time work commitment of 10 programmed activities (PAs) per week, each having a time-tabled value of four hours.
The basic pay thresholds in the UK are shown below:
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
England
SAS doctors currently earn a basic rate of between £52,530 and £82,400 as Specialty Doctors and from £83,945 to £95,275 as Specialist Grade doctors in England.
Specialty Doctor
Years of experience
Basic Salary
0 (min)
£52,530
1
2
3
£60,519
4
5
6
£67,465
7
8
9
£74,675
10
11
12
£82,400
13
14
15
16
17
Associate Specialist / Specialist Grade
Years of experience
Basic Salary
0 (min)
£83,945
1
2
3
£87,000
4
5
6
£95,275
The most recent full pay circular for England can be found here.
Scotland
SAS doctors currently earn a basic rate of between £45,193 and £84,272 as Specialty Doctors and from £63,361 to £103,074 as Associate Specialists in Scotland.
Specialty Doctor
Years of experience
Basic Salary
0 (min)
£45,193
1
£49,057
2
£54,080
3
£56,772
4
£60,651
Threshold 1
5
£64,516
6
7
£68,466
8
9
£72,418
10
Threshold 2
11
£76,370
12
13
14
£80,321
15
16
17
£84,272
Associate Specialist
Years of experience
Basic Salary
0 (min)
£63,361
1
£68,454
2
£73,546
3
£80,271
4
£86,099
Threshold 1
5
£88,517
6
7
£91,673
8
9
£93,880
10
Threshold 2
11
£96,945
12
13
14
£100,008
15
16
17
£103,074
The most recent full pay circular for Scotland can be found here.
Wales
SAS doctors currently earn a basic rate of between £51,765 and £81,200 as Specialty Doctors and from £82,722 to £93,887 as Specialists in Wales.
Specialty Doctor
Years of experience
Basic Salary
1
£51,765
2
3
4
£59,637
5
6
7
£66,482
8
9
10
£73,587
11
12
13
£81,200
14
15
16
17
18
Specialist
Years of experience
Basic Salary
1
£82,722
2
3
4
£88,305
5
6
7
£93,887
The most recent full pay circular for Wales can be found here.
Northern Ireland
SAS doctors currently earn a basic rate of between £51,000 and £80,000 as Specialty Doctors and from £81,500 to £92,500 as Associate Specialists in Northern Ireland.
Specialty Doctor
Years of experience
Basic Salary
Pay Point
0
£51,000
1
1
2
3
£58,756
2
4
5
6
£65,500
3
7
8
9
£72,500
4
10
11
12
£80,000
5 - top
13
14
15
16
17
Specialty Doctor
Years of experience
Basic Salary
Pay Point
1
£81,500
1
2
3
4
£87,000
2
5
6
7
£92,500
3 (top)
The most recent full pay circular for Northern Ireland can be found here.
Job Planning and Programmed Activities
As part of your contract, your job plan will be created in partnership with your new NHS employer. This is an annual agreement that sets out your duties, responsibilities and objectives for the length of your contract.
There are four basic categories of contractual work which will be included in your job plan: direct clinical care (DCC), supporting professional activities (SPAs), additional responsibilities and external duties.
There are ways that consultants will be able to earn more than the basic rates above and these can include additional rotas and PAs. This will also be discussed in the creation of your job plan.
Sources
https://www.nhsemployers.org/system/files/2023-02/Pay%20and%20Conditions%20Circular%20%28MD%29%202-2023.pdf
https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/pcs/PCS2022(DD)01.pdf
https://www.nhs.wales/files/pc-resources/042023-md-circular/
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-hsc-tc8-03-2022.PDF
Getting started
NHS Trusts can interpret the NHS consultant pay scales above and an international doctor’s experience in different ways, so use this blog as a guideline for understanding what you may be eligible for when coming to work in the NHS.
Your IMG Consultant is happy to assist with any negotiations related to your job plan to ensure your experience is taken into account.
For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.
As an overseas doctor looking to work in the UK, it is essential to understand the salary that comes along with your NHS job and how this can be different from one country in the UK to another.
Whilst the NHS has guides that are used to fairly and uniformly determine consultant pay, these do differ across the UK.
Basic Pay
Consultants in England and the other home countries each have their own consultant contracts in place. These are based on a full-time work commitment of 10 programmed activities (PAs) per week, each having a time-tabled value of four hours.
The basic pay thresholds in England and their equivalents in the rest of the home countries are shown below:
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
England
Consultants currently earn a basic rate of between £93,666 and £126,281 in England.
Threshold
Years completed as a consultant
Basic Salary
1
0
£93,666
2
1
£96,599
3
2
£99,532
4
3
£102,465
5
4
£105,390
5
6
7
8
6
9
£112,356
10
11
12
13
7
14
£119,323
15
16
17
18
8
19+
£126,281
The most recent full pay circular for England can be found here.
The National Clinical Impact Award (NCIA) scheme aims to reward consultants who contribute most to the delivery of safe and high-quality care and the improvement of NHS services. You can apply for a new award after you have completed a full year in an eligible role.
Scotland
Consultants currently earn a basic rate of between £96,963 and £128,841 in Scotland.
Threshold
Years completed as a consultant
Basic Salary
1
1 (starting salary)
£96,963
2
2
£99,011
3
3
£101,957
4
4
£104,906
5
5
£107,846
6
7
8
9
6
10
£114,846
11
12
13
14
7
15
£121,846
16
17
18
19
8
20+
£128,841
The most recent full pay circular for Scotland can be found here.
All consultants who have reached point five of the pay scale are eligible for consideration for discretionary points, except for distinction award holders. Consultants granted discretionary points are not normally considered again for two years, although this may vary.
Wales
Consultants currently earn a basic rate of between £87,354 and £113,408 in Wales.
Threshold
Years completed as a consultant
Basic Salary
1
0 (starting salary)
£87,354
2
1
£90,137
3
2
£94,789
4
3
£100,191
5
4
£106,363
6
5
£109,882
7
6
£113,408
The most recent full pay circular for Wales can be found here.
Please note that the pay scale above is for substantive or permanent doctors in Wales.
For locum consultants, there is a fixed pay point of £100,381 which will apply regardless of years of consultant experience.
Commitment awards are available to all consultants after three years’ service at the top of the consultant pay scale, who demonstrate their commitment through satisfactory job plan reviews. They are then eligible at three-yearly intervals, until they have achieved eight award levels.
Northern Ireland
Consultants currently earn a basic rate of between £88,799 and £119,723 in Northern Ireland.
Threshold
Years completed as a consultant
Basic Salary
1
1 (starting salary)
£88,799
2
2
£91,581
3
3
£94,362
4
4
£97,141
5
5
£99,913
6
7
8
9
6
10
£106,520
11
12
13
14
7
15
£113,124
8
16+
£119,723
The most recent full pay circular for Northern Ireland can be found here.
Job Planning and Programmed Activities
As part of your contract, your job plan will be created in partnership with your new NHS employer. This is an annual agreement that sets out your duties, responsibilities and objectives for the length of your contract.
There are four basic categories of contractual work which will be included in your job plan: direct clinical care (DCC), supporting professional activities (SPAs), additional responsibilities and external duties.
There are ways that consultants will be able to earn more than the basic rates above and these can include additional rotas and PAs. This will also be discussed in the creation of your job plan.
Getting started
NHS Trusts can interpret the NHS consultant pay scales above and an international doctor’s experience in different ways, so use this blog as a guideline for understanding what you may be eligible for when coming to work in the NHS.
Your IMG Consultant is happy to assist with any negotiations related to your job plan to ensure your experience is taken into account.
For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.
Sources
https://www.nhsemployers.org/sites/default/files/2021-08/Pay-and-Conditions-Circular-MD-3-2021.pdf
https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/pcs/PCS2022(DD)01.pdf
https://www.nhs.wales/files/pc-resources/042023-md-circular/
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-tc8-2-2020.pdf
As an NHS employee, you will pay Income Tax and National Insurance on your wages through the PAYE system.
Overseas doctors will have tax and national insurance automatically deducted from their monthly salary. How much deducted depends on how much you earn.
PAYE stands for Pay As You Earn.
Some income is tax-free. You can earn a certain amount of income each year, called your Personal Allowance, before you need to pay any Income Tax.
The personal allowance is a fixed amount set against your gross income.
In all four UK countries, the Personal Allowance is set at £12,500 (tax-free income). It is worth noting that if you earn more than £125,000 you will not receive a personal allowance.
The Personal Allowance will also be set at £12,500 for 2020/21.
Any pay above the personal allowance is then taxed according to your salary and pension.
Tax bands in England, Wales & Northern Ireland
Band
Taxable income
Tax rate
Personal Allowance
Up to £12,500
0%
Basic rate
£12,501 to £50,000
20%
Higher rate
£50,001 to £150,000
40%
Additional rate
over £150,000
45%
How much you pay is fixed as a percentage according to a band system. In Scotland the tax bands vary from those set in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, see below:
Tax bands in Scotland
Band
Taxable income
Scottish tax rate
Personal Allowance
Up to £12,500
0%
Starter rate
£12,501 to £14,549
19%
Basic rate
£14,550 to £24,944
20%
Intermediate rate
£24,945 to £43,430
21%
Higher rate
£43,431 to £150,000
41%
Top rate
over £150,000
46%
You can check that you are paying the right amounts using this online government tool. This will allow you to check the following your Personal Allowance and tax code are accurate. As well as helping you to understand how much tax you’ve paid in the current tax year and how much you’re likely to pay for the rest of the year. Your NHS employer will set your salary, and you will be automatically set up to pay your pension, tax and national insurance. However, at IMG Connect we think that it’s important to check you have the right tax code and are paying the right amount.
Can I make any more savings?
You will get tax relief on your pension payments. The NHS pension scheme is an attractive one, with very few schemes in the UK even coming close to this benefit. Find out more about your NHS benefits here.
Getting started
For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.
One of the main reasons that overseas doctors want to work in the Emergency Medicine departments across the UK, is the excellent opportunity for access to training such as the Specialist Training Programme, career progression, including CESR, and sub-specialty development.
This short article provides useful information on the training and development available, how to access the training, the best route to becoming a consultant in the UK with entry to the specialist register, no matter what stage of your training.
Emergency Medicine Training, leading to CCT
We start with an overview of the Emergency Medicine Training in the NHS. Trainees may enter the emergency medicine training programme via:
The EM (Emergency Medicine) core training programme at ST1. This is a three-year core training programme (starting from ST1 and ending at ST3).
For the first two years, trainees will spend 6 months in EM, Intensive Care Medicine, Anaesthetics and Acute Medicine. This is followed by a further year in trauma and paediatric EM.
The start of specialty training (ST4-6) subject to having achieved the necessary competences required for completion of ST3.
Once ST6 is completed, then a doctor will be added to the specialist register for medicine and hold the title of CCT. This means that they can apply for and practice at a consultant level in the NHS.
CESR
For senior Emergency Medicine doctors (experienced specialty doctors, consultants and heads of departments) there is also the option of CESR. You can apply directly for CESR from overseas, or secure a post in the NHS with CESR support and complete your application in the UK. This is a good option for those wanting to take up their first role in the NHS as a specialty doctor (leading to consultant) or as a locum consultant.
Applying from abroad can be lengthy, and it is certainly not the quickest route towards specialist registration. Most IMGs prefer to secure a post with CESR support, so speak to your IMG Consultant to learn more about the best route to the UK for senior doctors seeking consultant jobs in Emergency Medicine.
Most senior Emergency Medicine job vacancies advertised will offer support with CESR, access to training and career progression, and senior managers will encourage you to develop your own professional interests.
Emergency medicine departments in the NHS are particularly supportive of doctors seeking to develop both personally and professionally. To find out what jobs are on offer take a look here.
If you think that a Specialty Doctor post with CESR support is suited to you, or if you are a consultant or head of department, then you can find out more information here.
For further advice on how to secure the right job for you in the NHS, take a look at our the following article.
IMG Jobs
Search and find live emergency medicine NHS doctor jobs in the UK
IMG Resources
Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor jobs, doctor salary & relocation for emergency medicine specialists
Get in Touch
Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to see what Emergency Medicine job opportunities there are for you, including access to CESR support, Core and Specialty training.
For the latest news and updates on all things emergency medicine, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.
IMGs will want to know what an NHS consultant salary could mean as monthly take-home pay in Northern Ireland.
To help overseas doctors plan for life in the UK we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use!
How much will I take home?
Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.
It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the gross salary for each pay threshold and have assumed that you do not have other sources of income.
The figures can be higher or lower depending on any additional responsibilities or hours worked, other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses.
Take-Home Pay Expectations in Northern Ireland
Threshold
Annual gross salary*
Estimated annual take-home pay**
Estimated monthly take-home pay**
1
£88,799
£60,533
£5,046
2
£91,581
£62,166
£5,181
3
£94,362
£63,779
£5,315
4
£97,141
£65,391
£5,449
5
£99,913
£66,999
£5,583
6
£106,520
£69,527
£5,794
7
£113,124
£72,037
£6,003
8
£119,723
£74,544
£6,212
*before tax and pension
**based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions
To explore the pay and salary conditions across all grades in the UK take a look at our series of blogs on career structure and pay for NHS doctors in our IMG Resources library.
IMG Jobs
Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK
IMG Resources
In our IMG Resources library you can read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
Get in Touch
Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.
Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on NHS Jobs, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:
IMGs will want to know what an NHS consultant salary could mean as monthly take-home pay in Wales.
To help overseas doctors plan for life in the UK we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use!
How much will I take home?
Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.
It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the gross salary for each pay threshold and have assumed that you do not have other sources of income.
The figures can be higher or lower depending on any additional responsibilities or hours worked, other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses.
Take-Home Pay Expectations in Wales
Threshold
Annual gross salary*
Estimated annual take-home pay**
Estimated monthly take-home pay**
1
£87,354
£59,715
£4,967
2
£90,137
£61,329
£5,111
3
£94,789
£64,027
£5,336
4
£100,191
£67,122
£5,594
5
£106,363
£69,468
£5,789
6
£109,882
£70,805
£5,900
7
£113,408
£72,145
£6,012
*before tax and pension
**based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions
To explore the pay and salary conditions across all grades in the UK take a look at our series of blogs on career structure and pay for NHS doctors in our IMG Resources library.
IMG Jobs
Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK
IMG Resources
In our IMG Resources library you can read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
Get in Touch
Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.
Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on NHS Jobs, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:
IMGs will want to know what an NHS consultant salary could mean as monthly take-home pay in England.
To help overseas doctors plan for life in the UK we put together some examples to give a better idea of what you'll actually keep each month. We hope they are of use!
How much will I take home?
Firstly, take home pay in the UK is the amount that you will receive in your bank account after all deductions have been made from your annual salary. Deductions include Income Tax, National Insurance and NHS pensions.
It is important to state that this is just a guideline. We have based our figures on the gross salary for each pay threshold and have assumed that you do not have other sources of income.
The figures can be higher or lower depending on any additional responsibilities or hours worked, other sources of income you have, your final tax bracket, whether you opt out of pension, and whether you claim for your tax-deductible expenses.
Take-Home Pay Expectations in England
Threshold
Annual gross salary*
Estimated annual take-home pay**
Estimated monthly take-home pay**
1
£93,666
£63,376
£5,281
2
£96,599
£65,077
£5,423
3
£99,532
£66,778
£5,565
4
£102,465
£67,986
£5,666
5
£105,390
£69,098
£5,758
6
£112,356
£71,745
£5,979
7
£119,323
£74,392
£6,199
8
£126,281
£77,207
£6,434
*before tax and pension
**based on standard salary and not inclusive of additional payments for extra hours worked or pension deductions
To explore the pay and salary conditions across all grades in the UK take a look at our series of blogs on career structure and pay for NHS doctors in our IMG Resources library.
IMG Jobs
Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK
IMG Resources
In our IMG Resources library you can read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!
Get in Touch
Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.
Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on NHS Jobs, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:
Understanding your NHS job's salary is essential for overseas doctors new to the UK and Northern Ireland in particular.
Doctors are a fundamental part of delivering high quality patient care within HSC Northern Ireland and as such, they are rewarded with competitive pay rates and benefits.
NHS pay scales can be confusing, particularly for overseas doctors. Here we hope to provide some clarity to help you understand the NHS grades and how they fit on the various NHS pay scales in Northern Ireland.
In this article we will take a look at the following topics:
Typical NHS doctor’s salary in Northern Ireland
FY1 & FY2
Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8)
Specialty Doctor
Associate Specialist
Consultants
Where do I fit on the pay scale?
Doctors in training pay scale
Specialty Doctor Pay Scale
Specialist Grade Pay Scale
Consultant Pay Pcale
Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms & conditions
Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you're looking for.
Trust doctor jobs and IMGs' pay
It is important to note that the majority of overseas doctors will start their career in the UK in a fixed-term Trust doctor role (also known as a service post), before taking up a training position. Doctors across all grades can enter a service post, which is to say that they are not in training or entering specialty training.
As such, most of our adverts for fixed term or permanent posts will be service jobs, these are usually SAS doctor, consultant, SHO or Trust doctor posts at the equivalent of FY2, ST1/2, ST3+. These can be attractive due to the improved salaries that can be negotiated for fixed term contracts, based on experience and demand.
The pay scales that we have included in this article are to be used as a guide or starting point for negotiating your Trust doctor role (or service post).
Typical NHS doctor’s salary in Northern Ireland
FY1 & FY2
In the most junior hospital trainee post of Foundation Year 1 (FY1) your basic salary is £26,713. In year two this increases to £33,133.
As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premiums.
Specialist Training (ST1 – ST8)
If you are a doctor starting your specialist training, your basic salary starts at £35,405 and can progress to £46,842.
As a doctor in training you will earn a basic salary for 40 hours per week, plus pay for additional hours worked, 37% enhancement for nights, weekend allowance for weekend work, on call allowance and other possible pay premiums.
Specialty Doctor
Specialty doctors currently earn from £51,000 to £80,000 basic pay.
The basic contract is for 40 hours. As a specialty doctor you can be paid for additional duties, extra hours worked, weekend work and on calls.
Specialist Grade
A key element of recent SAS contract reform is the introduction of a new grade, called the Specialist grade oo Associate Specialist, which will provide an opportunity for career progression for highly experienced specialty doctors. Associate Specialists doctors can earn a basic of between £81,500 to £92,500.
Consultant
Consultants currently earn from £88,799 to £119,723 basic pay.
As a consultant you can be paid for additional duties and may be eligible for Clinical Excellence Awards, which reward outstanding performance. The basic contract is for 40 hours per week.
If you take on extra responsibilities (i.e. management or education) you can also expect to be paid additional supplements.
So where do I fit on the pay scale?
There are a few key points when considering where you fit on the pay scale:
Job title
Experience
Hours worked
Trusts can be different
Job title
The first thing to consider is your job title.
At the Consultant level, it is straight forward, you will be a consultant. However, at the Specialty Doctor level, you could be working as an SAS doctor, a Specialty Doctor or a Trust Grade doctor. As an ST or SHO you could also work across several levels.
Each could command a different pay scale depending on the level of work and experience required.
Take some time to check the job title that you are applying and interviewing for, and subsequently the pay scale that you can expect.
Experience within your chosen field
Next, consider the number of years of experience you have in your specialty, this is crucial to identifying your position on the pay scale.
This is important as an NHS Trust will calculate your pay for a Specialty Doctor in Medicine by deducting two of your years of experience to compensate for the Core Training years in the UK. Please note, for some specialties this does not apply, check with an IMG Consultant for more information.
Hours you will work
The second thing to consider is how many hours you will be working. For both SAS Doctors and Consultants, the hours are usually established using PAs (programmed activities). Each PA is worth 4 hrs of your week, and a standard week is 40 hrs. A standard salary is based on a full working week of 10 PAs (40 hours). If you work above 10 PAs, then you will gain additional salary on top of your basic pay.
NHS trusts can be different
The last thing to consider before we look at the pay scales, is that some NHS Trusts can interpret the pay scales and a doctor’s experience in different ways. All NHS Trusts should be following the same pay scale structures when recruiting and offering salaries to doctors, but this is not always the case!
This blog is a guideline, and if you are not sure of how to approach this discussion with an HR department, it can be very useful for an IMG Connect consultant to assist with the negotiations to ensure that your experience is always taken into account.
NHS Pay Scales in Northern Ireland
Doctors in Training
Service level jobs are in high demand at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay. It is also important to remember that once in the UK, you will have the option to apply for training, depending on your entry level.
The below pay scale reflects the pay at each level depending on the entry points to training, which are FY1/ F1, ST1/ CT1 and ST3/ 4.
The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.
As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.
Foundation Doctors & Specialty Registrars
Scale
Foundation Doctor 1
M220
Foundation Doctor 2
M230
Specialty Registrar (fixed term)
M240
Specialty Registrar (core training)
MN39
Specialty Registrar (full)
MN37
Min
£26,713
£33,133
£35,405
£35,405
£35,405
1
£28,381
£35,298
£37,573
£37,573
£37,573
2
£30,046
£37,466
£40,597
£40,597
£40,597
3
£42,428
£42,428
£42,428
4
£44,634
£44,634
£44,634
5
£46,842
£46,842
£46,842
6
£49,050
7
£51,256
8
£53,463
9
£55,670
SAS Doctor Pay Scale
SAS stands for Staff Grade, Associate Specialist and Specialty Doctor. They will have at least four years of full-time postgraduate training, two of which have been in the relevant specialty. Specialist Grades and Specialty Doctors in Scotland have their own contracts in place for senior doctors these contracts are based in full-time work commitment of 10 programmed activities per week it has been timetabled value of four hours. The new pay structure will enable SAS doctors to access the top of the pay scale more quickly than the current system, increasing the career average earnings.
It is important to note that your pay will reflect your experience within your chosen field.
The pay code on the left-hand side of the table below correlates to the number of years’ experience that you qualify for in your chosen specialty, and the number of years that the HR department are going to attribute to you.
Remember to discount any years that you have worked in an internship. And if you are working in a medicine specialty, deduct any core training years.
In the first threshold, for every year of experience you gain, this entitles you to a pay rise. In the second threshold, you will receive an increase every two years, and in the third, every three years.
The salary is based on a standard working week of 10PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.
As above, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.
Specialty Doctor
Years' Experience
Basic Salary
Pay Point
0
£51,000
1
1
2
3
£58,756
2
4
5
6
£65,500
3
7
8
9
£72,500
4
10
11
12
£80,000
5 - top
13
14
15
16
17
Specialist Grade
Years' Experience
Basic Salary
Pay Point
1
£81,500
1
2
3
4
£87,000
2
5
6
7
£92,500
3 (top)
Consultant Pay Scale
Service level consultant doctor jobs are in high demand in Scotland at all levels of experience, each offering competitive rates of pay.
At the consultant grade, HR departments will look at your years of experience within your specialty, as a consultant.
On the table below, you can see that all you need to do is count up the total number of complete years of experience (12 months each) as a consultant, and then count down the rows to establish your salary position.
Like the above, the salary is based on a standard working week of 10 PAs (40 hours), if you work additional hours, on calls or weekend work, then your take home pay will increase as a result.
Remember, use the below as a salary guide for service level posts in England. It is worthwhile checking with your IMG Consultant the best pay opportunities for you, it is highly conceivable that you can earn more than the pay scales below depending on experience and demand.
Threshold
Years completed as a consultant
Basic Salary
1
1 (starting salary)
£88,799
2
2
£91,581
3
3
£94,362
4
4
£97,141
5
5
£99,913
6
7
8
9
6
10
£106,520
11
12
13
14
7
15
£113,124
16
17
18
19
8
20+
£119,723
The most recent full pay circular for Northern Ireland can be found here.
Additional pay, benefits, pensions and terms & conditions
Current national salary scales for medical and dental staff are published in pay and conditions circulars on the NHS Employers website.
You may be eligible for additional pay on top of your basic salary if you work above the standard 10 PAs, work on call & weekends, or take on extra responsibilities. All doctors are eligible for NHS pensions and benefits.
Sources
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-hsc-tc8-03-2022.PDF
Getting started
NHS Trusts can interpret the NHS consultant pay scales above and an international doctor’s experience in different ways, so use this blog as a guideline for understanding what you may be eligible for when coming to work in the NHS.
Your IMG Consultant is happy to assist with any negotiations related to your job plan to ensure your experience is taken into account.
For more information on NHS doctor benefits and pay arrangements in the UK, take a look at our IMG Resources library.