Pick the right notice length
| Band / Grade | Typical notice | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1-4 | 1 month (4 weeks at some trusts) | Your contract / trust policy |
| Band 5-6 | 2 months (6 to 8 weeks at some trusts) | Your contract / trust policy |
| Band 7 | 2-3 months (8 weeks at some trusts, 12 weeks at others) | Your contract / trust policy |
| Band 8a-9 | 3 months (12 weeks at some trusts; some senior contracts set longer) | Your contract / trust policy |
| Doctor in Training | 3 months | 2016 Junior Doctors Contract |
| SAS Doctor | 3 months | SAS 2021 Contract |
| Consultant | 3 months (some 6) | 2003 Consultant Contract |
| VSM / Chief Executive | 6-12 months | Individual contract |
These are typical figures from NHS trust contracts, not a national rule: the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service (Agenda for Change) Handbook does not set notice periods by band, so the figure in your own contract governs. Whatever your contract says, the legal minimum applies: one week from you once you have worked one month, and from your employer one week, rising to one week per full year of service from two years, up to 12 weeks.
For the full band-by-band detail see the NHS Agenda for Change notice table and the NHS notice periods by band reference page.
How the calculator works
NHS notice is contractual - it runs in calendar months (not calendar-month boundaries) from the date HR receives your written resignation letter. The calculator:
- Takes the date you plan to hand in your notice.
- Adds the notice period you selected.
- Adjusts for weekends and bank holidays as required.
- Returns your effective leaving date - the last day of paid employment.
The result works for Agenda for Change bands, doctors in training, SAS grades, consultants and senior managers - the arithmetic is the same, only the notice length varies.
Band-by-band detail
- NHS Band 2 notice period
- NHS Band 3 notice period
- NHS Band 4 notice period
- NHS Band 5 notice period
- NHS Band 6 notice period
- NHS Band 7 notice period
- NHS Band 8a notice period
- NHS Band 8b notice period
- NHS Band 8c notice period
- NHS doctors notice periods
- NHS consultants notice periods
After you resign - what happens next
Written resignation to the line manager copied to HR (ESR notification runs alongside). Notice runs from the receipt date. Complete outstanding work, hand over patient care to named colleagues, return trust equipment on the final day. Final pay including accrued leave is paid in the next normal payroll run; P45 within 30 days of leaving.
Detailed sequence at NHS resignation guide. For rights on redundancy, maternity or probation see NHS employment rights.
Useful calculators
- Notice period calculator - general calculator for any UK employer.
- Final working day calculator - final-day arithmetic with weekend and bank-holiday handling.
- Holiday entitlement calculator - accrued NHS annual leave at leaving date.
- PILON calculator - payment in lieu of notice.
- Redundancy calculator - statutory redundancy pay.
Related NHS guides
- NHS notice periods by band
- NHS Agenda for Change notice table
- NHS employment rights
- NHS resignation guide
- NHS redundancy rights
- NHS probation period
- NHS maternity leave rights
Authority pages
Frequently asked questions
- What notice do I have to give the NHS?
- The figure in your contract. The Agenda for Change handbook does not set notice periods by band; trusts do. Typical trust figures: Bands 1-4 one month; Bands 5-6 two months; Band 7 two to three months; Bands 8a to 9 three months (some senior contracts are longer). The legal minimum is one week from you once you have worked one month. Doctors in training give three months under the 2016 Junior Doctors Contract; consultants three months under the 2003 Consultant Contract.
- Is the NHS notice period the same as statutory notice?
- No. NHS contractual notice (in your trust contract or the medical contracts) is usually longer than the statutory minimum in section 86 Employment Rights Act 1996: one week from you once you have worked one month, and from the employer one week per full year of service up to 12 weeks. The longer of the two applies, so the contract figure is usually what you actually give.
- Can I give shorter notice to the NHS?
- Only by mutual agreement with your line manager and HR. Trusts often accept shorter notice where the handover is complete and cover is in place. Ask in writing early in the notice period. Walking out without notice is a breach of contract - avoid.
- Does the calculator apply to NHS doctors and consultants?
- Yes for the arithmetic - pick three months and enter the resignation date. Doctors have specific handover, deanery and revalidation requirements alongside the notice period. See the NHS doctors notice periods and NHS consultants notice periods guides for the detail.
- What about NHS Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
- Each nation has its own AfC handbook with the same band structure but small local variations. None of them sets a notice period for each band: notice is in your contract and your employer's policy. Check your contract and your employer's HR policy for the figure that applies to you.
Sources and further reading
- NHS Staff Council: Terms and Conditions Handbook — The Agenda for Change master document, updated regularly. It does not set notice periods by band.
- Employment Rights Act 1996, section 86 — Statutory notice floor.
- BMA: Notice periods for doctors — Union guidance on doctor notice.
- Royal College of Nursing: employment — Union reference for NHS staff.
General guidance on NHS notice, not personal advice. For your situation, contact the NHS Staff Council, your trust HR or your union or professional body.