NHS England (NHSE) has said it ‘firmly’ expects GP partners to award practice nurses and other practice staff a full 6% pay rise.
A letter from NHSE primary care director, Dr Amanda Doyle, and medical director for primary care, Dr Claire Fuller, confirmed funding will be given via the Global Sum – used to deliver core parts of the GP contract – to uplift the pay of salaried GPs, GP partners and all practice staff for 2024/25.
‘This includes practice nurses, reception, management and other practice staff,’ they wrote.
‘We firmly expect GP partners to honour the intent of this uplift and award the full 6% pay rises to all their staff.’
As previously reported, the GP contract will be amended to uplift the pay elements by 6% – made up of an additional 4% on top of the 2% already given in April. The payment will also be backdated to 1 April 2024.
It follows recommendations from the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration (DDRB) on pay for GPs, of which the government said it had accepted in full.
A similar pay rise promise was made to GPNs in England last year – but due to funding issues many nurses did not receive a 6% pay rise – or any rise at all – for 2023/24.
Those among the profession have warned this week that the payment mechanism for GPNs needs overhauling, with ring-fenced money for pay rises.
Meanwhile, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) vowed to take action to ensure GPNs are given a pay rise ‘at least’ in line with NHS staff who have been promised a 5.5% uplift.
As GP practices are self-employed contractors to the NHS, it is for GP practices to determine uplifts in pay for their employees.
In its letter today, NHSE said it would work with the Department of Health and Social Care will consult with the British Medical Association (BMA) on the uplift.
‘Once the details are finalised, NHS England will confirm when practices can expect to receive uplifted payments via the Primary Care bulletin,’ it added.
