Under Agenda for Change, your annual leave goes up as your NHS service grows. Here is exactly what you get and when.
The three leave levels
- Under 5 years: 27 days (202.5 hours) plus 8 bank holidays
- After 5 years: 29 days (217.5 hours) plus 8 bank holidays
- After 10 years: 33 days (247.5 hours) plus 8 bank holidays
Hours are for full-time staff on 37.5 hours a week (days × 7.5).
After 5 years
Once you complete 5 years of reckonable NHS service, your leave rises by 2 days to 29 days. That is 15 extra hours a year for full-time staff.
After 10 years
After 10 years, your leave rises by another 4 days to 33 days. With bank holidays, that is up to 41 days of paid leave a year.
What counts towards your service
Service with any NHS employer usually counts, so moving trusts does not reset the clock. Maternity, adoption and sickness absence also normally count. Breaks in service and work outside the NHS depend on your employer's policy, so check your service date with HR.
Part-time staff
The same levels apply, scaled to your hours: (weekly hours ÷ 37.5) × days × 7.5. At 30 hours a week after 10 years: 30 ÷ 37.5 × 33 × 7.5 = 198 hours.
Work out your exact figure with the NHS Annual Leave Calculator.