The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is ‘very hopeful’ that many general practice nurses (GPNs) will get a better pay rise for 2024/25 than they did last year, Nursing in Practice has been told.
RCN executive director for England, Patricia Marquis, said she wanted to encourage GPNs to set out their pay expectations now, as GP practices begin to make decisions on incoming funding from the government.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed last week that it will increase funding for general practice in England – known as the global sum – by £311m to support a staff pay rise and ensure practices ‘have the resources they need’.
It comes after the government’s decision to accept a 6% pay rise for GPs and other practice staff, including nurses, for 2024/25.
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However, a similar situation last year saw many GPNs miss out on the full 6% pay rise that had also been promised for 2023/24, because of funding issues.
In an interview with Nursing in Practice today, Ms Marquis said: ‘I’m very hopeful that many of them will get more of a rise this year than last year.
‘If they don’t then that for us is more justifiable for us to be cross this year than it was last year.’
Ms Marquis encouraged GPNs to begin laying the groundwork on their pay expectations for when the funding lands with GP practices this year – which the government has said will be this month.
She stressed that ‘setting expectations ahead of time’ allows GPNs to tell employers: ‘We know you’ve got more money coming, we know the government has said they expect you to pass money on and we do understand that you might not be able to pass on 6% but actually I am expected to get a pay rise.’
While the money for a practice staff uplift is expected for the end of September, the RCN told Nursing in Practice it was concerned this could be delayed.
Because of the complex funding formula used in general practice, concerns have been raised in recent years over whether funding given from the government to provide staff pay rises is enough.
The global sum funding system allocates money per patients, based on various factors including demographics – meaning different practices get different levels of funding.
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Ms Marquis said it is ‘vital’ that MPs and ministers understand how general practice is funded and why GPNs need a pay uplift.
But she cautioned that it is ‘too early to expect a firm answer’ on pay, as different practices will have offered different uplifts last year.
Ms Marquis also described a ‘shift’ in the relationship between the RCN and the British Medical Association – who have been working together more closely over the past year on issues including pay.
Nursing in Practice understands that the RCN and BMA are ‘in conversation’ about a joint pay statement from the unions, similar to last year.
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In February an RCN survey revealed that almost half (44%) of general practice nursing staff in England had not received a pay rise last year.
The survey, of almost 1,500 nursing staff employed by GP practices in England found that over three-quarters (77%) did not receive the full 6% pay rise practice staff were promised the summer before.
Only one in five (20%) of respondents said they received 6% pay award, and of those, 19% were not given back pay to April 2023.
