# The National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 2015, Schedule 15: Definitions

Extent: E+W

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Word or expression
Meaning or reference to provision where meaning is to be found
the 1993 Act
Pension Schemes Act 1993
the 1995 Act
Pensions Act 1995
the 1995 Regulations
National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 1995
the 1995 Section
the section of the National Health Service Pension Scheme for England and Wales set out in the 1995 Regulations
the 1999 Act
Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999
the 2004 Act
Finance Act 2004
the 2006 Act
National Health Service Act 2006
the 2006 (Wales) Act
National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006
the 2008 Regulations
National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 2008
the 2008 Section
the section of the National Health Service Pension Scheme for England and Wales set out in the 2008 Regulations
the 2013 Act
Public Service Pensions Act 2013
the 2016 Order
means the Pensions Act 2014 (Contributions Equivalent Premium) (Consequential Provision) and (Savings) (Amendment) Order 2016
accrual rate
the fraction of pensionable earnings that accrue as earned pension for a financial year
accrued rights
does not include a right to benefits attributable (directly or indirectly) to a pension credit
active member
see section 124(1) of the 1995 Act. Except where the context otherwise requires refers to membership of this scheme (but see regulation 85(3))
actuarial reduction
see paragraph 9 of Schedule 9
additional pension
unless the context otherwise requires, so much of a pension payable by virtue of contributions paid under Chapter 5 of Part 4
adoption leave
has the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002
allocation amount
the amount of the pension allocated in consequence of making an allocation election
allocation election
an election under regulation 51
APMS contract
arrangements under section 83(2) of the 2006 Act or section 41(2)(b) of the 2006 Wales Act (primary medical services) between NHS England or a Local Health Board and an APMS contractor
APMS contractor
a person—
(a)with whom NHS England or a Local Health Board has made arrangements under section 83(2) of the 2006 Act or section 41(2)(b) of the 2006 Wales Act; and
(b)who has entered into, or would be eligible to enter into, a GMS contract or a PMS agreement for the provision of primary medical services
automatic enrolment date
see section 3(7) of the Pensions Act 2008
automatic re-enrolment date
see regulation 12 of the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) Regulations 2010
base rate
(a) the Bank of England base rate announced from time to time by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England as the official dealing rate, being the rate at which the Bank is willing to enter into transactions for providing short term liquidity in the money markets; or
(b) if an order under section 19 of the Bank of England Act 1998 is in force, an equivalent rate determined by the Treasury under that section
Board and advisory work
see paragraph 1 of Schedule 10
carer’s leave
leave under section 80J of the Employment Rights Act 1996
CCT
a Certificate of Completion of Training awarded under section 34L(1) of the Medical Act 1983 , ...
certification services
services related to the provision of medical certificates listed in Schedule 4 to the GMS Contracts Regulations
. . .
. . .
connected scheme
see section 4(6) of the 2013 Act, but the provisions of the National Health Service Pension Scheme (Additional Voluntary Contributions) Regulations 2000 are not a connected scheme for the purpose of these Regulations
conversion amount
see paragraph 10 of Schedule 9
corresponding health service scheme
(a) a pension scheme provided under regulations made under section 1(2)(e) of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 and having effect in Scotland; or
(b) a pension scheme established under section 1(2)(e) of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014
corresponding scheme
a corresponding health service scheme the provisions of which the Secretary of State has determined correspond to the provisions of these Regulations
deferred member
in relation to a period of pensionable service is a person (P) who—
(a)ceases to be an active member in relation to that period of service before P reaches normal pension age;
(b)does not become a pensioner member in relation to that period of service; and
(c)has at least two years' qualifying service or in respect of whom a transfer payment otherwise than from another occupational pension scheme has been received
dental contractor
see paragraph 4 of Schedule 5
dental performer
a person—
(a)whose name is included in a dental performers list or who is a foundation trainee in the first two months of foundation training; and
(b)who performs primary dental services under—
(i)a GDS contract;
(ii)a PDS agreement to which a PDS contractor is a party; or
(iii)a contract for services with a Local Health Board which relates to arrangements under which it provides primary dental services under section 56(2) of the 2006 (Wales) Act (primary dental services) or a PDS agreement to which a PDS contractor is not a party
dental performers list
a list of dental practitioners prepared in accordance with regulations made under—
(a)in the case of England, section 106 of the 2006 Act ; or
(b)in the case of Wales, section 63 of the 2006 (Wales) Act
dental practitioner
see paragraph 7 of Schedule 5
determination employer
see paragraph 8 of Schedule 5
dispensing services
the provision of drugs, medicines or appliances that may be provided as pharmaceutical services by a medical practitioner in accordance with arrangements made under—
(a)in the case of England, regulation 46 of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013 ; and
(b)in the case of Wales, regulation 4 of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Wales) Regulations 2013
doctors' retainer scheme
(a) in relation to England, a scheme described in section 20 of the General Medical Services Contracts Statement of Financial Entitlement Directions 2013 ; and
(b) in relation to Wales, a scheme described in section 16 of Document SFE/April/2013 attached to the Directions to Local Health Boards as to the Statement of Financial Entitlement Directions 2013
employing authority
see regulation 33(6)
foundation trainee
a dental practitioner who is employed as a foundation trainee as a consequence of a placement arrangement made by a local postgraduate dental dean or a director of postgraduate dental education
GDS contract
a general dental services contract under section 100 of the 2006 Act or section 57 of the 2006 (Wales) Act (general dental services contracts: introductory)
GDS contractor
a person who is a party to a GDS contract, other than NHS England or a Local Health Board
GMS contract
(a) in relation to England, a contract under section 84 of the 2006 Act or under article 13 of the General Medical Services Transitional and Consequential Provisions Order 2004 ;
(b) in relation to Wales, a contract under section 42 of the 2006 (Wales) Act or under article 13 of the General Medical Services Transitional and Consequential Provisions (Wales) Order 2004
GMS Contracts Regulations
(a) in relation to England, the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2004 ;
(b) in relation to Wales, the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Wales) Regulations 2004
GMS practice
(a)a registered medical practitioner who belongs to group D in regulation 27(1);
(b)two or more such individuals practising in partnership; or
(c)a company limited by shares,
with whom NHS England or a Local Health Board has entered into a GMS contract
GOS contract
a contract under section 117 of the 2006 Act (general ophthalmic services contracts) for the provision of mandatory services and additional services as defined in regulation 2(1) of the General Ophthalmic Services Contracts Regulations 2008
GP registrar
a medical practitioner who is being trained in general practice—
(a)in England by a medical practitioner who is approved under section 34I of the Medical Act 1983 for the purpose of securing maintenance of the standards and requirements established under section 34H(1)(a) of that Act , whether as part of training leading to the award of a CCT or otherwise; or
(b)in Wales by a medical practitioner who is being trained in general medical practice by a GP trainer whether as part of training leading to the award of a CCT or otherwise
guaranteed minimum pension
see the 1993 Act, section 8
health service worker
a person engaged in the provision of health services whether under the 2006 Act, the 2006 (Wales) Act or otherwise
host Board
in respect of—
(a)a medical practitioner or a non-GP provider specified in paragraph (1);
(b)a locum medical practitioner; or
(c)a medical practitioner who is employed by a medical contractor in pursuance of a GMS, a PMS or an OOH contract or a PMS agreement, means—
(i) NHS England or each Local Health Board with which the partnership, company, practice, individual or contractor (as the case may be) has entered into such a contract or agreement; and
(ii)(in the case of a medical practitioner) the relevant Board on whose medical performer's list the practitioner's name appears;
in respect of—
(a)a dental contractor specified in paragraph (2); or
(b)a dental practitioner who is employed by a dental contractor to perform GDS or PDS in pursuance of a GDS contract or a PDS agreement but is not a party to that contract or agreement, means—
(i)in relation to—
(aa)England, NHS England for which it provides primary dental services under section 99(1) of the 2006 Act ; or
(bb)each Local Health Board which relates to arrangements under which it provides primary dental services under section 56(1) or (2) of the 2006 Wales Act; and
(ii)where appropriate, the relevant Board on whose dental performer's list the practitioner's name appears.
(1) The medical practitioner or non-GP provider is—
(a) an individual who is a GMS or a PMS practice or an APMS contractor;
(b) a partner in a partnership that is—
(i) a GMS or a PMS practice or an APMS contractor; and
(ii) has entered into a GMS contract, a PMS agreement or an APMS contract for the provision of primary medical services;
(c) a shareholder in a company limited by shares that is—
(i) a GMS or a PMS practice or an APMS contractor; and
(ii) has entered into a GMS contract, a PMS agreement or an APMS contract for the provision of primary medical services.
(2) The dental contractor is one who provides primary dental services under—
(i) a GDS contract;
(ii) a PDS agreement (whether or not a PDS contractor is a party to the agreement); or
(iii) a contract for services
integrated care board
a body established under Chapter A3 of Part 2 of the 2006 Act
lifetime allowance
in relation to a person, has the meaning given in section 218 of the 2004 Act
locum practitioner
a medical practitioner (other than a GP registrar) whose name is included in a medical performers list and who is engaged, otherwise than in pursuance of a commercial arrangement with an agent, under a contract for services by an entity specified in paragraph (1) to deputise or temporarily assist in the provision of services, work or functions specified in paragraph (2) or any combination of these.
(1)The entities are—
(a)a GMS practice;
(b)a PMS practice;
(c)an APMS contractor;
(d)an OOH provider; or
(e)a Local Health Board or NHS England.
(2)The services, etc., are—
(a)essential services, additional services, enhanced services, pharmaceutical services or dispensing services within the meaning of the GMS Contracts Regulations;
(b)OOH services;
(c)commissioned services;
(d)certification services;
(e)Board and advisory work;
(f)health related functions exercised under section 75 of the 2006 Act;
(g)NHS 111 services; ...
(h)collaborative services; or
(i) services pursuant to an NHS standard contract or an NHS standard sub-contract.
lump sum and death benefit allowance
in relation to a person, has the meaning given in section 637R of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003
maternity leave
ordinary maternity leave or additional maternity leave as defined in regulation 2(1) of the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Regulations 1999
medical contractor
see paragraph 3 of Schedule 5
medical performers list
a list of registered medical practitioners prepared and published—
(a)by NHS England pursuant to regulation 3(1) of the National Health Service (Performers Lists) (England) Regulations 2013; or
(b)by a Local Health Board pursuant to regulation 3(1) of the National Health Service (Performers Lists) (Wales) Regulations 2026
medical practitioner
see regulation 166
member
in relation to this scheme means—
(a)an active member;
(b)a deferred member;
(c)a pensioner member; or
(d)a pension credit member
neonatal care leave
leave under section 80EF of the Employment Rights Act 1996
NHS 111 services
services provided as part of the telephone advice line commissioned by an integrated care board or NHS England
NHS employment
employment or engagement of an individual who is of a description in—
(a)any of sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) of paragraph (1) of regulation 18, or
(b)sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of paragraph (2) of that regulation,
unless the scheme manager certifies that the employment is not NHS employment
NHS organisation
see paragraph 1 of Schedule 5
NHS standard contract
means the terms and conditions from time to time drafted by NHS England pursuant to regulation 17 of the National Health Service Commissioning Board and integrated care boards (Responsibilities and Standard Rules) Regulations 2012
NHS standard sub-contract
a sub-contract that complies with NHS England’s guidance “NHS Template Sub-Contract for the Provision of Clinical Services for use with the NHS Standard Contract 2021/22 (Full Length and Shorter Form versions) Guidance”
non-GP provider
(a) a partner in a partnership that is a GMS practice who is not a GP provider and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State that he assists in the provision of NHS services provided by that practice;
(b) a partner in a partnership—
(i) all of whose members have entered into a PMS agreement for the provision of primary medical services; but
(ii) who is not a GP provider and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State that he assists in the provision of NHS services provided by that partnership;
(c) a partner in a partnership that is an APMS contractor—
(i) that has entered into an APMS contract for the provision of primary medical services; but
(ii) who is not a GP provider and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State that he assists in the provision of NHS services provided by that partnership;
(d) a shareholder in a company limited by shares that is—
(i) a GMS practice; or
(ii) a PMS practice or APMS contractor that has entered into a PMS agreement or APMS contract for the provision of primary medical services,
but who is not a GP provider and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State that he assists in the provision of NHS services provided by that company;
(e) an individual who is a PMS practice or an APMS contractor but who is not a GP provider and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State that he participates in the provision of NHS services
normal minimum pension age
see section 279(1) of the 2004 Act
normal pension age
is determined in accordance with section 10 of the 2013 Act
OOH provider
see regulation 164
OOH services
services which are required to be provided in the out of hours period and which, if provided during core hours by a GMS practice, APMS contractor or PMS practice to patients to whom the practice or contractor is required by its GMS contract, APMS contract or PMS agreement to provide essential services (see the GMS Contracts Regulations), would be or would be similar to essential services
In this definition—
(a)“core hours” means the period beginning at 8am and ending at 6:30pm on any day from Monday to Friday except Good Friday, Christmas Day and a bank holiday;
(b)“out of hours period” means—
(i)the period beginning at 6:30pm on any day from Monday to Thursday and ending at 8am the following day;
(ii)the period between 6:30pm on Friday and 8am the following Monday;
(iii)Good Friday, Christmas Day and a bank holiday
overtime
any period of time worked during the period beginning with 1st April 2015 and ending with 31st March 2024 that is in excess of—
(a) whole-time, according to the terms of the member’s employment contract; or
(b) if regulation 27A applies to the member, but the member does not make an election under paragraph (2) of that regulation, the lesser of—
(i) the period of time for which the member was contracted to work in the ordinary course of events; or
(ii) such a period of time as the scheme manager determines a person engaged in similar employment would reasonably be contracted to work in the ordinary course of events
any period of time worked on or after 1st April 2024 that is in excess of—
(a) whole-time, according to the terms of the member’s employment contract; or
(b) the terms of the member’s employment contract, during the period of 12 months following an election for partial retirement made under regulation 84
parental bereavement leave
the meaning given in regulation 3 of the Parental Bereavement Leave Regulations 2020
parental leave
has the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Regulations 1999
paternity leave
leave under regulation 4 or 8 of the Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002
PDS agreement
an agreement for the provision of primary dental services pursuant to section 64 arrangements (see the 2006 (Wales) Act) or section 107 arrangements (see the 2006 Act)
PDS contractor
a person who—
(a)is a party to a PDS agreement; and
(b)is neither NHS England nor a Local Health Board
PMS agreement
an agreement for the provision of primary medical services pursuant to—
(a)section 50 arrangements (see the 2006 (Wales) Act);
(b)section 92 arrangements (see the 2006 Act); or
(c)a transitional agreement under Part 4 of the General Medical Services and Personal Medical Services Transitional and Consequential Provisions Order 2004
PMS practice
(a)an individual,
(b)two or more individuals practising in partnership, or a company limited by shares,
with whom, or with whose members NHS England or Local Health Board has entered into a PMS agreement under which primary medical services are provided (otherwise than by the National Health Service Commissioning Board or Local Health Board)
pay period
in relation to members who receive either salary, wages or other regular payments under a contract of employment or a contract for services, the period in respect of which each payment is made in accordance with the terms of that contract
pension credit
a credit under section 29(1)(b) of the 1999 Act (including a credit under corresponding Northern Ireland legislation)
pension credit member
see section 124(1) of the 1995 Act
pensionable employment
NHS employment in respect of which contributions are payable under Part 4
pensioner member
in relation to this scheme, is a person who is entitled to payment of a retirement pension under the scheme
practice staff
means a person who is not a registered medical practitioner, a GP registrar or a non-GP provider and who is employed by a GMS practice, a PMS practice, an APMS contractor or an OOH Provider to assist in the provision of any of the following—
(a) OOH services or services that practice or provider provides pursuant to a GMS contract, PMS agreement or an APMS contract;
(b)services pursuant to an NHS standard contract;
(c)services pursuant to an NHS standard sub-contract where the party to the NHS standard contract in question is an employing authority;
(d)clinical health care services for the NHS commissioned by an employing authority that is not a GMS practice, a PMS practice, an APMS contractor, an OOH provider or an Independent Provider;
practitioner
see regulation 27(5)
primary care network
a network of primary medical services contractors and other providers of services which has been approved by the National Health Service Commissioning Board, serving an identified geographical area
primary care network management company
a partnership or incorporated legal entity that is a party to a primary care network standard sub-contract and under which provides services to that network that are related to the management of that network
primary care network standard sub-contract
a sub-contract that complies with the National Health Service Commissioning Board’s template sub-contract, “Sub-contract for the provision of services related to the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service 2022/23
prospective normal pension age
in relation to a member's prospective entitlement to benefits under this scheme, means the normal pension age that the scheme manager determines (by reference to Treasury directions made under section 11(2) of the 2013 Act) would apply in relation to those benefits
public sector transfer arrangements
arrangements approved by the Secretary of State as providing reciprocal arrangements for the payment and receipt of transfer values between this scheme and other occupational pension schemes
qualifying service
see regulation 22
quarter
a 3 month period ending on the last day of March, June, September or December
salary sacrifice arrangement
an arrangement under which the member gives up the right to receive an amount of pensionable earnings in return for the provision of a benefit in kind including, but not limited to, a benefit consisting of a motor car or other vehicle, meals, care or vouchers
scheme administration charge
the charge provided for in regulation 36A
scheme manager
see regulation 3
scheme year
a period of 12 months starting on 1st April
section 9(2B) rights
has the same meaning it has in the Occupational Pension Schemes (Schemes that were Contracted-out) (No. 2) Regulations 2015
shared parental leave
the meaning given in regulation 3(1) of the Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014
standard earned pension
pension which—
(a)is earned under this scheme; and
(b)is payable without actuarial reduction at normal pension age
state pension age
pensionable age, as specified from time to time in Part 1 of Schedule 4 to the 1995 Act
this scheme
the scheme established by these Regulations
transfer payment
a transfer value payment or a cash transfer sum made or received by the scheme in relation to a member

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/94/schedule/15 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/national-health-service-pension-scheme-regulations-2015/schedule-15
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.