Blog & Guides
Practical guides to help you understand your NHS pay, leave, and entitlements under Agenda for Change.
How to Calculate Pro Rata Holiday (UK & NHS) — Days and Hours
How to work out pro rata holiday in days or hours, with worked examples for UK statutory leave and NHS Agenda for Change staff.
Read articleNHS Annual Leave After 5 and 10 Years — 27, 29 or 33 Days?
NHS annual leave rises from 27 to 29 days after 5 years and 33 after 10. What counts as service, in hours, and for part-time staff.
Read articleNHS Annual Leave in Scotland and Wales 2026/27 — What's Different?
NHS annual leave in Scotland and Wales explained: 27, 29 or 33 days, how bank holidays differ, and how to work out your entitlement.
Read articleCarrying Over and Buying Extra NHS Annual Leave — What's Actually Possible
Can you carry over unused NHS annual leave or buy extra days? A practical guide to your options under Agenda for Change and individual trust policies.
Read articleDo NHS Bank Staff Get Holiday Pay? Bank & Agency Leave Rights
Do NHS bank staff get holiday pay? How leave builds up for bank and agency workers, rolled-up holiday pay and how it differs from contracts.
Read articleDo You Still Accrue Annual Leave During NHS Sickness Absence?
Your rights to annual leave accrual during sickness absence in the NHS — including long-term sick leave, carry-over rules, and returning to work.
Read articleChanging NHS Trusts? Here's What Happens to Your Annual Leave
What happens to your annual leave when you move between NHS trusts — including service continuity, unused leave, and how to protect your entitlement.
Read articleNHS Annual Leave for Part-Time Workers — How Pro-Rata Really Works
A step-by-step guide to how annual leave is calculated for part-time NHS staff, with worked examples in days and hours.
Read articleHow Much Do NHS Staff Actually Take Home? The Answer May Surprise You
See what NHS staff really earn after tax, NI, and pension in 2025/26. Worked examples for every band — the gap between gross and net is bigger than you think.
Read articleNHS Take-Home Pay — A Complete Guide to What You Actually Earn in 2025/26
Calculate your NHS take-home pay for 2025/26. How income tax, NI, pension, and London weighting affect your Agenda for Change salary.
Read articleNHS Bank Holidays Entitlement Explained — What You're Actually Owed
How bank holiday entitlement works for NHS staff under Agenda for Change, including rules for part-time workers and those who work on bank holidays.
Read articleNHS Enhancement Rates by Band — Unsocial Hours, Nights & Bank Holidays
NHS unsocial hours pay explained — rates for evenings, nights, weekends, and bank holidays under Agenda for Change.
Read articleNHS Maternity Pay & Leave 2026/27 — Agenda for Change Explained
A comprehensive guide to NHS maternity leave entitlements, pay during leave, keeping-in-touch days, and returning to work under Agenda for Change.
Read articleBand 6 vs Band 7 Salary 2026/27 — NHS Take Home Pay Compared
Band 6 pays £39,959–£48,117 and Band 7 £49,387–£56,515 in 2026/27. See the real monthly take-home difference after tax, NI and pension.
Read articleNHS Band 2 vs Band 3 Pay 2026/27 — Hourly Rate, Take Home & Differences
Band 2 pays £25,272 (£12.92/hr) and Band 3 £25,760–£27,476 in 2026/27. See monthly take-home pay after tax, NI and pension.
Read articleHow to Maximise Your NHS Annual Leave — Smart Booking Tips
Practical strategies for getting the most out of your NHS annual leave, including bank holiday tricks, term-time planning, and carry-over rules.
Read articleNHS Annual Leave 2026/27: 27, 29 or 33 Days After 5 & 10 Years
NHS annual leave explained: 27 days, rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 after 10, plus 8 bank holidays. Pro-rata rules for part-time staff.
Read articleAfC Band 5 Take-Home Pay Guide for 2025/26
A detailed breakdown of Band 5 take-home pay after tax, National Insurance, and NHS pension deductions for the 2025/26 financial year.
Read articleNHS Pension Contribution Rates Explained (2025/26)
Understand how NHS pension contributions are calculated, the tiered rate system, and how much is deducted from your pay at each band.
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