The Mark-time Scheme for nurses has been introduced to offset any financial loss a nurse may incur under the normal pay on promotion arrangements, and is effective from 5th November 1999.

The Mark-time Scheme applies where a nurse is in possession of either a location, specialist, or a red-circled allowance - or a combination of two of these - and where s/he is promoted to a grade which does not attract one or any of these allowances and where application of the starting pay on promotion rules described above would result in a loss in pay.