From 1 April 2018 there are new arrangements regarding the pensionable status of Local Clinical Excellence Awards (CEA) awarded to Consultants.
Where a Consultant was already in receipt of a Local Clinical Excellence Award prior to April 2018 that same Award remains pensionable after April 2018.
- If a current Local Clinical Excellence Award increases as a result of a points increase (i.e. from level 8 to level 9) the increased amount is not pensionable.
- Any new Local Clinical Excellence Awards made from April 2018 are non-pensionable.
- The member’s basic salary and other established regular pensionable payments, such as ‘London weighting’ etc. that remain in payment continue to be pensionable.
More information is available on NHS Employers website.
There are no changes regarding the pensionable status of existing National Clinical Excellence Awards.
Where a member may be subject to a reduction in their pensionable pay because a Clinical Excellence Award has ceased or reduced, pensionable pay protection may be relevant. Employers must ensure the member completes the request to protect pensionable pay application form (SM R9 App). More information is available in the Members Hub area of our website and the Protection of Pay and Voluntary Protection of Pay factsheet.
The employer must then contact NHS Pensions to request protection. This situation may occur where existing Local or National Clinical Excellence Awards are reviewed, a member's application for a renewal of their award is unsuccessful and they revert to a lower value Local Clinical Excellence Award.