Not returning to NHS job after maternity leave

[FIrsttimeclapham]

Hi, I’m hoping someone can help. I’m in week 12 of my maternity leave from my NHS job and my husband has gotten a job in Ireland.

What is the best course of action here? I was thinking about letting my manager know informally and say that I will hand on my notice toward the end of my maternity leave and plan on coming back to work my notice (this should be 4/5 weeks after annual leave has been taken). Has anyone else done anything similar or been in a similar situation? I wouldn’t want to pay back my maternity pay which is the policy if not returning to work. Any advice or tips welcome

Might be worth checking your contact but in my NHS post you have to return to work for at least a 3 months or repay OMP...

Yes you have to pay back the difference between SMP and what you are paid - so you have to pay back the enhanced pay. It's not actually that much (unless you are a well paid consultant...)
Or you can go back to work for 3 months!

Normally annual leave will not count in the 3 months you have to return for, sorry

You don't repay smp but most jobs pay you more than smp for a whole which you will have to repay. Some jobs will ask you to say whether you just want smp if there is a chance you're not going to return so check what you've been paid while off