NHS doctors notice periods

Notice by career stage

Foundation and training grade notice

Foundation and speciality training doctors sit on the 2016 Junior Doctors Contract (the "TCS 2016"). Standard notice is 3 months on both sides. The notice is calendar months from the date the resignation letter is received by HR (not the calendar month boundary).

Practical implications:

• Notice cannot align with rotation change dates unless the trust and deanery cooperate. Resignation mid-rotation is common but complicates handover.
• Once notice is given, the deanery is notified and the future rotation is cancelled.
• Return-to-training within 3 years usually possible without full re-application; longer breaks require competitive re-entry.

See NHS notice period calculator and the NHS notice periods by band reference page.

Consultants and substantive posts

Substantive consultant contracts under the 2003 Consultant Contract have 3 months notice as default. Some trusts negotiate 6 months contractually, particularly for clinical leadership roles (Clinical Director, Medical Director) or where the post is difficult to fill. Notice runs on calendar months from HR receipt of the resignation letter.

Restrictive covenants are common in consultant contracts, particularly around private practice within the trust's catchment area. Enforceability depends on reasonableness of scope, duration and geography (usually 6-12 months post-termination). See working for a competitor during notice period.

SAS doctors and Associate Specialists

Staff and Associate Specialist (SAS) doctors are on the 2021 SAS contract (or the older closed-grade contract for those who did not transfer). Standard notice is 3 months. SAS grades are a substantive career route, distinct from training grades - resignation does not affect training progression because there is no training programme.

Associate Specialist is a closed grade (no new appointments since 2008). Existing Associate Specialists remain on the closed-grade contract with the older terms and conditions.

GP partners and salaried GPs

GP partners are self-employed under a partnership deed, not employed by the practice. Notice to leave the partnership is set by the partnership deed - commonly 6 months for outgoing partners, sometimes 12 months for senior partners. The partnership deed also governs the drawings and capital treatment on departure.

Salaried GPs are employed by the practice (or by a federation, a trust, or a super-partnership) under a BMA model contract or a local variant. Standard notice is 3 months. The BMA Practical Guide to the Salaried GP Contract is the reference.

Locum GPs work session-by-session, either direct or through an agency. Notice is agreement-specific and often as short as 24 hours cancellation.

Doctors in Training - LTFT and OOP

Doctors working Less Than Full Time (LTFT) apply the notice on the same pro-rata basis - 3 months notice, calculated by wall-clock date not by working weeks. Out of Programme (OOP) doctors, whether OOPE (experience), OOPT (training) or OOPR (research), give notice under the same TCS 2016 provisions.

Returning to training after leaving requires application through the standard route. Time out of training up to 12 months is usually managed as pause-and-resume with existing progression preserved; longer breaks usually require re-competition.

Locum doctors

Locum doctors work either as agency workers, direct engagement locums, or IR35-compliant PSCs. Notice depends on the arrangement:

• Agency locum: typically 24-48 hours to end an assignment early; agency terms apply.
• Direct engagement locum: per the specific engagement contract, usually 1-4 weeks.
• PSC/consultancy: per the SLA between the trust and the PSC, usually 4-12 weeks.

Agency Workers Regulations 2010 apply after 12 continuous weeks. See agency worker rights.

Handing in notice as a doctor

Written notice to your Clinical Director or Medical Director copied to HR. State the resignation clearly, name the role and current post (rotation for trainees), give the effective final day, and offer to support handover. For trainees, also notify the Postgraduate Dean's office and TPD (Training Programme Director).

Sensitive-role considerations:

• Do not walk off shift. Continue to work substantive rotas until the notified end date.
• Notify your Educational Supervisor and TPD as early as possible for trainees.
• Cooperate with the exit interview - useful evidence for your GMC revalidation record.
• Complete return-of-service paperwork if you were sponsored on a visa or bursary.

The resignation letter generator produces a suitable letter. See NHS resignation guide for the full sequence.

Return-of-service and sponsorship

Doctors on sponsored visas (particularly International Medical Graduates on Health and Care Worker visas), NHS bursary schemes, or return-of-service agreements may have contractual obligations that survive resignation. Common examples:

• Health and Care Worker visa: resignation triggers a 60-day grace period for the doctor to find a new sponsor. Otherwise Home Office notification.
• NHS-funded bursary: pro-rata repayment obligation if the doctor leaves before completing the funded period.
• Trust-sponsored fellowship: return-of-service clause typically 1-2 years post-fellowship.

Read the relevant agreement carefully and take BMA advice before resigning if any sponsorship obligation is in place.

Useful calculators

• NHS notice period calculator
• Notice period calculator
• Final working day calculator
• Holiday entitlement calculator
• PILON calculator

Related NHS guides

• NHS notice periods by band
• NHS employment rights
• NHS resignation guide
• NHS redundancy rights
• NHS probation period

Authority pages

• NHS employment rights
• NHS notice periods by band
• Employment rights hub
• Notice period rights UK

Frequently asked questions

What notice does an NHS junior doctor give?

3 months under the 2016 Junior Doctors Contract (TCS 2016). The notice runs from the date HR receives the written resignation, in calendar months. Foundation trainees, core trainees and speciality trainees all apply the same 3 months. Some trusts negotiate shorter releases where cover is in place.

What notice does an NHS consultant give?

3 months as default under the 2003 Consultant Contract. Some trusts contract for 6 months for Clinical Director, Medical Director or hard-to-fill posts. Restrictive covenants on private practice within the trust catchment area may apply after the notice period ends.

What notice does a GP partner give?

Set by the partnership deed - typically 6 months for outgoing partners, sometimes 12 months for senior partners. The partnership deed also governs drawings, capital account and any goodwill treatment. Take specialist medical-partnership legal advice before serving notice.

Can I resign from training and return later?

Yes. Time out of training up to 12 months is normally managed as pause-and-resume with existing progression preserved. Longer breaks usually require competitive re-entry through the standard national recruitment route. Talk to your TPD and the deanery before deciding.

What about doctors on Tier 2 or Health and Care Worker visas?

Resignation from the sponsoring employer triggers a 60-day grace period to find a new sponsor and lodge a change of employment. Home Office is notified by the outgoing sponsor. Take BMA and immigration-solicitor advice before resigning.

General information about NHS notice, not personal advice. For your situation, contact the NHS Staff Council, your trust HR or your professional body.