Frequently Asked Questions

Annual Leave Questions

Who calculates my Annual Leave entitlement?
How much Annual Leave am I entitled to?
Does my previous NHS service count towards my Annual Leave allowance, even if I have had a break in service?
Can I carry over Annual Leave from one Annual Leave year to the next?
Are bank holidays included in my Annual Leave entitlement?
If I join the Trust or leave the Trust part way through the year, how does this affect my Annual Leave entitlement?
 

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Who calculates my Annual Leave entitlement?
Your Line Manager will calculate your entitlement at the start of the Annual Leave year.  If you have any queries regarding your entitlement, these should be directed to your Line Manager in the first instance. Alternatively, the Annual Leave Calculator is available for your use at:

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How much Annual Leave am I entitled to?
For those staff who are employed under Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions, the following entitlements apply: 

0-4 years NHS service – 27 days
5-9 years NHS service – 29 days
10 years+ NHS service – 33 days

N.B. This is for fulltime employees, part time employees will receive a proportion of these figures depending on how many hours they work per week.

For Consultants:
6 weeks Annual Leave

For Junior Doctors:
For Doctors on points 1 or 2 of the StR scale – 27 days
For Doctors on points 3 and above on the StR scale – 32 days 

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Does my previous NHS service count towards my Annual Leave allowance, even if I have had a break in service?

Yes.

Previous service with an NHS employer will count as reckonable service in respect of annual leave, regardless of any break in service.  Staff will need to provide evidence of any previous service.

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Can I carry over Annual Leave from one Annual Leave year to the next?
Annual leave is an important part of the work life balance.  Therefore, the Trust wants all employees to take their full entitlement for the Annual Leave year as this is essential to the health and safety of the employee and the organisation.

The Annual Leave year runs from 1^st April – 31^st March every year (with the exception of Consultants, whose Annual Leave year runs from the anniversary of the date they were initially appointed to the Consultant grade)

If you fail to take all of your entitlement during your Annual Leave year, you cannot carry any over into the next annual leave year or be paid for this so please ensure you plan to take all your holidays within the allocated time period

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Are bank holidays included in my Annual Leave entitlement?
If you are a shift worker or part time worker, your Manager will provide your Annual Leave entitlement inclusive of bank holidays calculated pro-rata depending on how many hours you work.  Therefore, if you do not wish to work a bank holiday (or indeed your department is not open on a bank holiday) you must book this as Annual Leave and take the time from your entitlement.

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If I join the Trust or leave the Trust part way through the year, how does this affect my Annual Leave entitlement?
Annual Leave is only accrued for full months of service.  Therefore, you will receive a pro-rata Annual Leave calculation for your first year of service.

Employees who join after the 1st calendar day in the month will not receive leave entitlement for this part month (unless the 1st falls on a day that is not a usual working day for that employee)

Employees who leave before the last working day of a month will not receive leave entitlement for that month.

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