Fair pay for general practice nursing staff
We need fair pay for general practice nursing staff.
GP nursing staff are essential in delivering NHS services and supporting their communities through primary care, but many still aren鈥檛 getting what they deserve.
We鈥檙e campaigning to change that. But there are steps you can take to advocate for yourself too.
How is GP nursing pay funded?
Primary care services, including general practice, are often referred to as the 'front door' of the NHS. General practices keep communities healthy and bring patient care to the heart of every neighbourhood. While general practices deliver contracted NHS care, the practices themselves are run as independent businesses, often solely funded by government and central health and care funding.
This means that nursing professionals employed by general practices don’t always have the same pay, terms and conditions as their colleagues employed directly by NHS employers like hospitals. Employment terms are set by each individual practice, which can result in nursing staff receiving no protections beyond statutory sick pay and statutory parental leave.
What is happening now?聽
If you have not heard from your employer about this pay increase, or your employer is not transparent about the pay you should receive, you're not alone. We're advocating on your behalf but there are things you can do too.
How to advocate for yourself
Learn how to negotiate
Hear from RCN member Jeni Watts for a masterclass on negotiating pay.
Write to your employer
Tailor our letter templates and raise pay issues with your employer.
Get to know the process
Learn how funding is allocated and what to expect from the process.
How we're advocating on your behalf
- We鈥檙e part of the expert advisory group for the 2024/2025 GP contract alongside partners including the British Medical Association, Department of Health and Social Care, NHS Confederation, Royal College of General Practitioners and NHS England. As part of this work we are fighting to ensure the negotiations include maximising pay, terms and conditions for nursing staff employed by general practice.
- We鈥檙e responding to for recovering access to primary care, making sure the needs of our members are taken into account.
- Our GP nursing forum is reviewing the RCN Workforce Standards to ensure they鈥檙e relevant and useful to nursing staff working in general practice.
- We鈥檙e developing a set of 鈥済ood employment standards鈥 for GP employers alongside the RCN Workforce Standards. These will provide GP employers with a clear guide on good employment practice, specific to GP nursing staff. The standards will also be a reference for GP nursing staff to help with discussions about working conditions and pay.
- As part of this, the GP nursing forum is leading a project looking at nursing career pathways and template job descriptions for nurses working in general practice.
- In partnership with NHS England and the National Association of Primary Care, we run a series of monthly webinars for GP nursing staff.
Our work with the BMA in England
How does GP strike action affect you?
Read our BMA FAQs