NHS doc - what's the maternity pay like?

[Cyee]

Hi All,
Sorry if this is a repeat post, but funny enough the 'nhs' search throws up all sorts!
My SIL is hoping to soon start a family (hurray!) and is about to start a new hospital doc role (east cheshire). So we are trying to (subtly) find out what maternity pay would be like. We know statutory etc. but wondering about any NHS enhanced.
Is there consistency across the NHS on this? If you have any info it would be brilliant if you could share it.
Thank you in advance!

[tissy]

iirc, it's 90% of basic pay for up to six months.

Ask BMA?

Look on trust intranet for policy?

[pinkteddy]

have a look on this website here NHS employers - will she be staff grade or associate specialist? If so they are in the middle of agreeing new terms and conditions but not sure if this includes maternity pay. HTH

[madcol]

They calculate it based on your salary 14 weeks before you start the maternity leave. I got 90% for 6 months. This is now 9 months since 2007. It's not bad.

[Cyee]

Great - thanks so much for the quick replies.

She will be an SHO and is trying to get her hands on access to intranet/contract/handbook... whatever really! Glad to know we're on the right track.

Two further questions

• is the enhanced pay given automatically, or is there a qualifying period of employment?
• she is currently in a locum post at a different hosp/trust(following break in service for travel), so we are assuming that this won't count towards continuous service?

Thanks a million!

[madcol]

May be a problem if she is working as a locum. You generally have to working for the trust for something like 26 weeks. She should be able to make enquiries through human resources without compromising her post.

[Cyee]

Thanks madcol. She's working as locum at the mo, but new, perm job starts in August. Hopefully she can track down this info. She's clearly dying to get going, bless

[iworkthere]

Did you really get 90% for 6 months?
I think I got 90% for 6 weeks.

I'm off to the BMA now to check

Cyee from my recollection she needs 26 weeks continuous service before she is 26 weeks to get mat pay otherwise I think there is another qualifying period for stat.

My HR once told me a break of up to 3 months doesn't count for these purposes so that might help her

[iworkthere]

Just checked it is apparently 8 weeks full pay, (less stat or mat allowence)then some more at 1/2 pay
you need a year without more than 3 months off by the beginning of the 11th week before you are due

So how did you all get 6 months full then? (I can't really imagine trusts are going against Whitley council off their own bat)

HTH

[Cyee]

Thanks iworkthere.
For statutory, people basically need not to be pg when the get the job, but can get pg after week one.
At my (priv sector) employer, I needed 26 weeks service to qualify for the company's enhanced mat pay.
Thanks for the 3 month break info!
Is your pay info (8 weeks full...) from the BMA? Perhaps trusts sometimes offer more than this?
Thanks!

[NorthernLurker]

I didn't think doctors got more than us lowly ordinary NHS workers but maybe they do? If they don't then it's 8 weeks at full pay, 18 weeks at 1/2 pay plus SMP and then 13 weeks at SMP. You can take a further 3 months unpaid of course. This is the enhanced package and you have to return to work for at least three months at the end of your leave or pay some cash back!.

[Cyee]

Thank you northernlurker!

Are you entitled to the enhanced package from day one, or is there a qualifying period?

Thanks!

[twinklytoes]

i'd agree with northern. its one years service for enhanced but not sure if this counts as continuous service like annual leave.

[NorthernLurker]

hmmm - I think it migt count as continuous service is NHS in general not Trust specific but I would definately need to check that! I'll look into it when I'm next at work.

[Petro]

Hello,

I am a junior doc (ST3) on an out of program experience (OOPE) year. I am due to go back to my training post in March 09. I am newly pregenant!
I'm really pleased though concerned about maternity pay. Before taking this official year out (unpaid leave I guess) I have worked for my trust for 6 months and the NHS for 3 1/2 years.
Does anyone know if I still qualify for maternity pay

Thanks