NHS Annual Leave Entitlement 2026/27
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Figures verified against the Agenda for Change handbook (NHS Staff Council).
NHS annual leave entitlement by service length
Annual leave under Agenda for Change (Section 13 of the handbook) increases with reckonable NHS service. The figures below are for full-time staff working 37.5 hours a week, in England, for 2026/27:
| NHS service | Annual leave | Bank holidays | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| On appointment (0–4 years) | 27 days | 8 days | 35 days |
| After 5 years' service | 29 days | 8 days | 37 days |
| After 10 years' service | 33 days | 8 days | 41 days |
In hours — which is how part-time entitlement is calculated — a full-time day equals 7.5 hours:
- 27 days = 202.5 hours; 29 days = 217.5 hours; 33 days = 247.5 hours
- 8 bank holidays = 60 hours
Note: staff in Wales are widely reported to receive one extra day at each tier (28, 30 and 34 days plus bank holidays). This reflects Welsh handbook variations — confirm locally with your health board, as we have not verified it against the Welsh handbook text.
What counts as reckonable service?
The 5-year and 10-year thresholds are based on reckonable NHS service, not just service with your current trust. This generally includes:
- Previous employment with any NHS organisation in any UK nation
- Service counting across breaks — career breaks and gaps between NHS posts do not necessarily reset the clock, within limits
- Periods of maternity, parental and sick leave
If you have moved between trusts or taken a break from the NHS, check that your ESR record reflects your full reckonable service — it is a common reason for staff sitting on the wrong leave tier. Your trust's HR department can correct it.
Part-time staff: pro-rata annual leave
Part-time entitlement is calculated pro rata in hours, not days. This matters because rounding in days can short-change part-timers; the hours method is the accurate one.
Worked example — 3 days a week (22.5 hours, 0.6 WTE), new starter:
- Annual leave: 27 days × 0.6 = 16.2 days = 121.5 hours
- Bank holidays: 8 days × 0.6 = 4.8 days = 36 hours
- Total: 21 days = 157.5 hours
Worked example — 4 days a week (30 hours, 0.8 WTE), 6 years' service:
- Annual leave: 29 days × 0.8 = 23.2 days = 174 hours
- Bank holidays: 8 days × 0.8 = 6.4 days = 48 hours
- Total: 29.6 days = 222 hours
Part-time staff do not automatically get bank holidays off — because a part-timer's days off may or may not fall on a bank holiday, the fair approach used across the NHS is to give the pro-rata bank holiday hours as additional leave, added to the annual leave pot.
Bank holidays and unsocial hours
If you work on a bank holiday, the day is treated as an unsocial hours period under Agenda for Change Section 2: bands 1–7 receive enhanced rates (for example time + 60% for bands 4–9 on Sundays and public holidays), and overtime on a bank holiday is paid at double time. See our NHS unsocial hours and overtime guide for the full rates and worked examples.
Leaving the NHS mid-year: accrued leave
Annual leave accrues evenly across the leave year. If you leave the NHS — or change from full-time to part-time — part-way through the year, your entitlement is pro-rated to the portion of the year you actually worked.
Worked example — full-time, new starter, leaves after 6 months. Full entitlement is 27 days + 8 bank holidays = 35 days. After 6 months (0.5 of the year):
35 × 0.5 = 17.5 days accrued
If you have taken more leave than you have accrued by your leaving date, the excess is normally deducted from your final pay; if you have taken less, the balance is usually paid out. How bank holidays falling after your leaving date are treated follows your trust's leaver policy, so check it before you resign. The same pro-rating applies when moving between full-time and part-time hours mid-year — each period is calculated separately.
Booking leave and carry-over
How leave is booked — and what happens to untaken leave at year-end — is governed by a mix of statutory minimums and local trust policy. Agenda for Change terms and conditions set the entitlement; the mechanics (booking windows, maximum carry-over, buy-back or sell-back schemes) vary between employers. If you are approaching year-end with untaken leave, speak to your line manager early: many trusts allow only limited carry-over, and anything beyond that can be lost.
Related NHS pay guides
See the full NHS pay bands 2026/27 salary tables, how Agenda for Change works, and band-by-band figures: NHS Band 2 pay, NHS Band 5 pay and NHS Band 6 salary. For supplements on top of basic pay, read our guides to NHS unsocial hours and overtime pay 2026/27 and NHS London weighting (HCAS) rates 2026/27.
Frequently asked questions
How much annual leave do NHS staff get?
Full-time NHS staff in England get 27 days plus 8 bank holidays on appointment, 29 days plus 8 bank holidays after 5 years' service, and 33 days plus 8 bank holidays after 10 years' service, under Agenda for Change.
How is NHS annual leave calculated for part-time staff?
Pro rata in hours. Multiply the full-time entitlement by your WTE fraction — for example, 0.6 WTE on appointment gives 16.2 days (121.5 hours) of annual leave plus 4.8 days (36 hours) of bank holiday entitlement.
Do NHS staff get bank holidays on top of annual leave?
Yes. The 8 bank holidays are in addition to the 27, 29 or 33 days of annual leave. Part-time staff receive their bank holiday entitlement pro rata as extra hours added to their leave pot.
Does previous NHS service count towards extra annual leave?
Yes. The 5-year and 10-year thresholds use reckonable NHS service, which includes previous posts with any NHS organisation and generally survives career breaks. Check your ESR record reflects your full history.
How many days' leave do you get after 5 years in the NHS?
After 5 years' reckonable NHS service, full-time staff move to 29 days of annual leave plus 8 bank holidays — 37 days (277.5 hours) in total.
How many days' leave do you get after 10 years in the NHS?
After 10 years' reckonable service, full-time staff move to 33 days plus 8 bank holidays — 41 days (307.5 hours) in total.
Do NHS staff in Wales get more annual leave?
Wales is widely reported to grant one extra day at each tier — 28, 30 and 34 days plus bank holidays. Treat this as "verify locally" with your health board, as it reflects Welsh handbook variations.
What happens to unused annual leave when you leave the NHS?
Leave accrues evenly through the leave year, so your entitlement is pro-rated to your leaving date — for example, 6 months of a 35-day entitlement gives 17.5 days accrued. Untaken accrued leave is normally paid out in your final pay; leave taken in excess of accrual is usually deducted.
Sources: Agenda for Change handbook (Section 13), NHS Staff Council; RCN guidance on annual leave and holiday pay.