The early findings of an exclusive general practice nurse (GPN) pay report have been discussed at this year’s Nursing in Practice 365 event in London – where concerns about poor pay and conditions resonated with many attendees.
The Nursing in Practice news team shared a snapshot from our GPN pay survey – supported by our sister title Management in Practice – which revealed how few practice nurses have received a pay rise in the last year and how many are looking to leave the profession in the next year.
In the coming weeks Nursing in Practice and Management in Practice will publish a full reporting outlining the pay, responsibilities and employment conditions of GPNs.
Interim findings shared at the Nursing in Practice 365 on Thursday showed that of more than 500 general practice nursing staff, a significant 28% say they want to quit in the next 12 months.
This was largely because they felt undervalued (68%) and because they felt their pay was not keeping up with the cost of inflation (67%) or in line with their responsibilities and workload (60%).
Our survey in the autumn showed half of GPNs had not received a pay rise for 2024/25, and a further survey by the Royal College of Nursing showed this was still the case for almost a third of GPNs.
Attendees were asked if they received a 6% pay rise last year, in line with the government’s promises, to which only a couple raised their hands.
One attendee said: ‘We went to the manager to find out why we haven’t had a 6% rise and I was told “because we’ve given it to the GP”.’
Another said they had been given a pay rise of less than £4 over a 30-year period.
And another added: ‘We need every penny. If you don’t look after the staff, how are they going to look after your patients and your services? How will they manage. You’re burning your staff out.’
In December, the RCN asked the independent pay review body for GPs to explore the reasons why many practice nurses are not being given a pay rise and to ensure its future recommendations ‘expressly and explicitly’ include the nursing profession.
While money given by the government to GP practices to support staff pay rises is intended for GPs and employed practice staff, as self-employed contractors to the NHS, it is for GP practices to determine uplifts in pay for their employees.
Thursday’s event session was supported by Rebecca Corneck, Queen’s Nurse and director of general practice nursing at Southeast London Workforce Development Hub.
Ms Corneck was among 10 nurses that behind the GPN Manifesto for 2024, where she championed the need for practice nurses to be given the same pay, terms and conditions as their secondary care colleagues.
Speaking to attendees at the London event, Ms Corneck stressed the importance of the profession using their voice to ‘shout’ about the vital role they have in practices. practices.
‘My biggest fear is of practice nurses becoming invisible, because we’ve not got a big voice,’ said Ms Corneck.
‘We don’t shout. We’re really quiet. And if we’re not careful, we’re going to disappear.’
Nursing in Practice 365 is an easy-to-use online CPD platform with an extensive library of high-quality modules and both online and in-person events held across the year.
Our next virtual event is being held on 23 April and will focus on cardiology, while our next in-person event will be held in Birmingham on 12 June.
