NHS waiting lists are soaring because “ludicrous” pension rules are stopping senior doctors working extra hours.
One London trust reported that the number of patients being made to wait more than 18 weeks for treatment had risen from 3,000 to 4,500 since April.
Treasury rules are hitting those earning more than £110,000 a year as they face an annual tax charge on pension contributions above a certain threshold.
Dr Rob Harwood, of the BMA union, said: “Doctors are forced to say no because they face huge bills created by the ludicrous pension taxation rules.
“This Government absolutely has to see sense and agree to a major overhaul of pension taxation before patient care is bereft of high-skilled experienced doctors and lives are lost.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “We want to make NHS pensions more flexible for senior clinicians, in response to evidence that shows this issue is having an impact on retention.
“We will carefully consider all views on our proposals.”
