Speaking at the GP Pensions Conference in Hammersmith, west London, on Thursday Dr Dearden said that when the government first reviewed the Hutton proposals for public sector pensions, its intention was to close the added years scheme along with the 1995 pension scheme in 2015.
However the BMA has argued that the added years scheme should be reviewed separately from the NHS pension scheme.
‘We feel the added years contract is separate,’ Dr Dearden said. ‘It’s a bolt-on to the pension scheme and therefore agreed separately.’
The BMA would like the government to honour its previous commitments to both the 1995 pension scheme and the added years scheme, Dr Dearden said.
Dr Dearden said that the BMA had ‘a discussion’ with the government and made its views on changes to the added years scheme very clear.
‘It won't be a surprise to the government what are views our,’ Dr Dearden said.
‘The BMA has clearly put in two very detailed responses to the Hutton review and the interim report.’
Dr Dearden said that the DoH was beginning to feel ‘a little bit upset’ by the nature of the responses it had received to its consultation on pension contribution changes.
Doctors are saying 'If you do this and then the Hutton stuff I won’t be able to stay in the scheme'', Dr Dearden said.
‘I don’t think they’ve (the government has) truly understood the impact it will have on manpower,’ he added.
