Now here’s a potentially controversial idea. In return for doing nightshifts, should NHS staff be entitled to an earlier retirement?

This idea came to me during a 4am callout. A recent general recommendation from our accountants to check for any gaps in national insurance contributions, took me to the HMRC website. It informed me – cheerfully, I felt – that I had contributed 14 full years of national insurance, and I had another 32 to go until retirement. The 10-minute car journey to the hospital presented an opportune moment to reflect on whether this makes me feel young, or depressed.

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