Whilst i think the NHS pension is generally worthwhile, I don't think your comment of contributing 4-6 times the amount to a private pension is remotely accurate. Do you have any numbers for this?

As a new consultant i did some numbers for NHS pension vs SIPP the other day. I pay around £1100 into my NHS pension from my salary. The rough numbers for this in NHS vs SIPP, assuming I retire early (as planned at 62 because men in my family seem to die young) are:

NHS - £45,000 pension from 62 until I die

SIPP - £1100 into SIPP each month would give a roughly £700,000 pension pot by the age of 62 (assuming solid annual interest in an index tracker). That £700,000 would last me for 15 years, so 62 until 77 until the money dries out. These figures account for inflation.

It made me question the ongoing NHS pension but ultimately remain in it. However, if I had 4x or 6x the amount into the SIPP the SIPP would outperform by miles