Nurses should expect it to be weeks before the pay uplift for staff working in general practice in Scotland is announced, the British Medical Association (BMA) in Scotland has said.
BMA Scotland told Nursing in Practice that it is likely to be several weeks before they conclude negotiations with the Scottish government on what the funding uplift to practices will be.
The ongoing negotiations, which began last week, will determine what resources practices have available to offer individual pay awards to employed staff.
The Scottish branch of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has confirmed it is ‘not involved’ in ongoing pay negotiations, but says it has ‘made clear’ to the Scottish government and BMA that it expects GPN salaries to ‘increase in line’ with AfC in Scotland.
The proposed uplift was announced this week and, if accepted by unions, would be received by GPNs employed under AfC, which the vast majority of GPNs are not.
The nursing union has said that general practice nurses (GPNs) who are employed by the NHS will be able to vote in the union’s upcoming consultation on the proposed 5.5% pay uplift for Agenda for Change (AfC) staff in Scotland.
Whilst not directly involved in the negotiations with the Scottish government, Unite the union told Nursing in Practice that they are also pushing for a pay rise for non-AfC staff in Scotland.
‘It would be our desire that all non-AfC staff are offered a pay deal in parity with their colleagues to recognise their skills, knowledge and experience and harmonise Scotland’s Health Service workforce, which was the reason the Scottish Government introduced the Agenda of Change model in the first place,’ said Unite officer, James O’Connell.
Rhona Aikman works as a nurse practitioner in Gourock, Scotland. She told Nursing in Practice that more funding is needed to ensure ‘different terms and conditions do not widen further.’
‘We need to ensure the GPN role continues to attract high calibre nurses and ANPs. By far most patients contact with the NHS is in general practice and many of these are carried out by a GPN.
‘The inequality in terms and conditions with AFC and GPNs is a problem with many nurses in general practice having poor terms for the likes of holidays, sick leave and maternity pay,’ Ms Aikman added.
A Scottish Government spokesperson commented that further talks are expected, but did not specify timings.
‘Initial pay discussions with BMA Scotland Consultants and NHS employers took place last week and talks are being arranged with Scottish GPs which will cover practice staff.’
