Overseas NHS Workers and Pension Mis-Selling
On Friday 3rd of March 2023, the whole country have come together to celebrate Overseas NHS workers’ day. This initiative was started by The Doctors’ Association UK in 2021 to acknowledge the extraordinary contributions made by workers who migrate from overseas to work for the NHS.
Overseas NHS workers play an important role in providing healthcare services to millions of people across the country. Many of these workers have spent most of their lives dedicated to their jobs, with the expectation that one day they will finally enjoy a comfortable retirement.
Unfortunately, many of these workers might have fallen victim to a mis-sold pension, a practice in which workers that are entitled to a final salary or defined benefit pension, which provides guaranteed benefits, without exposing the member to any form of investment risk, are given inappropriate advice about transferring their pensions to more risky arrangements, and/or inferior pensions. As a result, they lose thousands of pounds in retirement savings, leaving them uncertain about their financial future.
In this article, we’ll explore the role of overseas healthcare workers within our healthcare system, the challenges they face whilst working in the UK, and the devastating impact mis-sold pension transfers can have on their lives.
If you are a current or former NHS worker that might have been wrongly advised about transferring your pension, the main aim of this article is to help you understand your rights and take action to claim your retirement savings back and protect your financial well-being.
“Overseas NHS workers play an important role in providing healthcare services to millions of people across the country.”
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The Role of Non-British Workers in the UK
Over the years, foreign-born NHS staff have made immeasurable contributions to the country’s healthcare system.
They are essential in overcoming significant and ongoing challenges such as filling shortages of qualified staff, providing patient care, and advancing medical research and innovation.
In the UK, there is a large and diverse number of non-British healthcare staff.
Doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, and support personnel arrive from all over the world, including countries like Poland, India, the Philippines, and Zimbabwe.
Their unique set of skills, knowledge, and extensive experience working in other healthcare systems, complement those of their British co-workers, ensuring that the NHS provides adequate care to an ever more diverse patient population.