Working for the NHS maternity pay

[Littlemisssunshine86]

I am a nurse and start a new job in 2 weeks. We are trying to conceive which is taking a lot longer than expected.
Does anyone have experience with maternity pay in the NHS?
How long do I need to be with my new trust before conceiving to get SMP?
Thank you

[Jessica71]

You need to not be pregnant before you start but shortly after you start is fine. You need to have been in post for for 40 weeks before the week your baby is due to qualify for SMP from your employer. Have a look at the SMP table on the gov.uk site and find your start date and work forward from that.

[Jellybean100]

Have a look at nhsemployers.org
It states :

Employees must have 12 months’ continuous service with the NHS by the eleventh week before the expected week of childbirth (EWC) and:
Intend to return to work in the NHS for a minimum of 3 months.

This is to get the full maternity pay entitlement. To be entitled to SMP:

To qualify for statutory maternity pay an employee has to have 26 weeks continuous service with the one (current) employer by the beginning of the fifteenth week before the expected week of childbirth (EWC).