The 2015/16 GMC contract published by NHS England contained an error relating to parental leave allowance when it was published in March 2015. It stated that parental leave entitlement was 20 weeks, when the entitlement was 26 weeks. This error was identified in December 2015 and circulated to NHS area teams. NHS England have agreed to pay for up to 26 weeks if the doctor on parental leave took the leave at the time (notwithstanding that the contract stated a 20 week allowance).

GPC sought guidance on whether doctors that took only 20 weeks as per the incorrect contract could take the extra 6 weeks entitlement retrospectively. GPC have been advised that a doctor in this situation should have legal entitlement to the extra 6 weeks as they relied on a document that was published by NHSE with this error.

November 2016