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NHS Pay & Conditions

 

 

 

Agenda for Change

 

A national pay system - Agenda for Change (AfC) - was introduced across the NHS in October 2004 for all directly employed staff except doctors and the most senior managers. The new pay system offers real benefits for staff including:

  • a standard working week of 37.5 hours
  • harmonised holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus eight general and public holidays, rising to 33 days after ten years of service
  • new pay enhancements to reward out-of-hours, shift, and overtime working
  • better career and pay progression based on the application of knowledge and skills
  • annual personal development review to support career aspirations.


Other benefits of working in the NHS include training, occupational health services, automatic membership of the NHS Pension Scheme (unless you choose to opt out), and study leave for sponsored courses.