Sick Leave Rights
NHS contracts provide more generous sick leave entitlements than the statutory minimum. Disability-related absence also has specific protections you need to know about. Based on NHS Terms & Conditions. This page does not reproduce NHS Employers or BMA guidance.
Sick Leave Rights
Doctors are entitled to sick leave like any other employee, but NHS contracts provide more generous entitlements than the statutory minimum. What you're entitled to depends on how long you've been in service.
Under the NHS Terms and Conditions, most doctors are entitled to:
During first year of service
1 month full pay + 2 months half pay
After 1 year's service
2 months full pay + 2 months half pay
After 2 years' service
4 months full pay + 4 months half pay
After 5 years' service
6 months full pay + 6 months half pay
Disability-related sick leave should be considered carefully before any disciplinary or capability process is started. An employer is expected to ask whether reasonable adjustments could have prevented the absence before taking action against you.
If you're a trainee, sick leave affects your training timeline. Talk to your educational supervisor and TPD early, most deaneries have a process for extending training, and it's much easier to use it proactively than to unpick things later.