Plans to increase NHS pension contributions could make midwife shortages worse, it has been claimed.
The RCM has made the statement in its response to the government consultation on NHS Pension Scheme from 2012.
The response states: ‘The RCM has serious concerns that midwives will retire as a result of contributions rises, and the other proposed changes to the NHS pension scheme.
‘This will impact on the NHS pension scheme as the numbers of members paying into the scheme will be reduced but the numbers who are drawing their pension will be increased.
‘Moreover, this would be damaging for maternity services and the women who use the service as there is already a shortage of nearly 5000 midwives in the UK.
‘There should be a commitment on the government’s part to consider the impact that these changes will make on the service and care that the NHS provides.’
The RCM also argues that with the future of the NHS pension scheme still under discussion and possible reforms still unknown, that this is an ill-timed and poorly thought through proposal.
Jon Skewes, RCM director of employment relations and development, said: ‘We are currently in negotiations about NHS pensions and the proposed increase in contributions should be part of that process, not outside of it.
‘NHS workers are putting more money into their scheme than they take out - this is why the NHS pension scheme has over £2 billion sitting in it.
‘This is all about the government making midwives and other NHS staff pay off the huge deficit caused by some of the reckless elements of the banking sector.
‘To ask public sector workers to pay more for their pensions when the contributions will not go to fund their pension but pay off national debts is not only dishonest but it is actually a tax on public sector workers.
‘We would welcome and expect negotiation and discussion, but we will oppose dictats by the government on NHS pensions.’
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Department of Health maintains the NHS pension will remain ‘one of the very best available’ and will provide a guaranteed pension level for all employees.
A spokesman also said the health secretary Andrew Lansley has been in ‘constructive discussion’ with health unions over recent weeks and is committed to pursuing a ‘fair balance’.
