A bit cheeky I know but how come a small pension after a life in the NHS, a good few of my friends were in that trade and small pensions are something they certainly do not have. As for the management decision, a typical waste of NHS money and they should be sacked.
That is a good question and one which has passed through my mind on a number of occasions. It is very difficult to gauge what is a small and what is a large pension. I don't want to publish Mrs P or my specific finances other than neither of us currently pay tax. Small is relative and I keep in mind many would be grateful for an NHS pension which our IFA always said she couldn't beat. My wife was front line staff where salaries do not reflect skill levels and as a consequence any pension scheme based on 1/60th is never going to be huge. From what I observe those who worked in NHS management receive a better deal.
As for the redundancy decision it is a reflection of government policy rather than poor management. The NHS financial year ends March 31st. In the February as a result of central government cuts the Local Authority was forced to cut community services dramatically - for the following financial year in which my wife might have retired. While Community Health Care is a LA responsibility it is delivered by NHS staff with the services purchased by the LA from local Trusts (provided they win the tender process). The LA announces severe cuts in local services, NHS trust looses the business and is overstaffed, NHS has no option but to offer redundancies as there is no income to pay for the staff - all in roles which had been created to deliver on behalf of the LA. In my wife's instance she had not formally announced her intention to retire. The employer couldn't run the financial risk of her remaining in service as there would have been an obligation to find a new role, at the same salary even if on a lower pay grade, for three years when her role disappeared. It makes more sense to take a hit on one year's salary than employ someone in a role below their pay grade for three years.
What the public do not understand is this. Government funding and cuts is all smoke and mirrors. It is outright lies. What happens is simply whenever government cuts funding in one area the consequence is to increase costs elsewhere. There is a total lack of joined up thinking.
