Last week (13 July), the Department of Health and Social Care announced the 2023-2024 pay award for GP contracts in England. This means salaried GPs in England will receive a 6% pay uplift, which should be passed on in full to all salaried practice staff, including nursing staff employed by GP surgeries providing NHS services.
The RCN is clear that salaried GP nursing staff should receive a pay rise of 6% in line with the full value of this pay uplift, and it should be implemented as soon as possible and backdated to April 2023.
For practice nursing staff who’ve not had confirmation from their employer about this pay increase, we’ve created a letter template to enable them to seek clarification and receive their pay rise.
RCN England Director Patricia Marquis said: “This pay award is recognition of your daily commitment to patients and the NHS. We're determined to ensure you receive your pay award promptly and in full and will support you to secure this if your employer does not guarantee it.
“The fight for fair pay for nursing across all NHS and non-NHS settings continues. We have set our ambitions high and will be stepping up our campaign for the pay you deserve.”
Six ways we’re representing general practice nursing staff
- The RCN is currently involved in the expert advisory group for the 2024/2025 GP contract with key partners such as the British Medical Association (BMA) Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the NHS Confederation, Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and NHS England.
- The RCN is responding to for recovering access to primary care, published in May 2023.
- In partnership with the General Practice Nursing (GPN) Forum we’re reviewing the RCN Workforce Standards to ensure they’re relevant to nursing staff working in general practice.
- The RCN is developing good employment standards alongside the RCN Workforce Standards.
- The GPN Forum is leading a project looking at nursing career pathways and template job descriptions for nurses working in general practice which will help to ensure equitable pay, terms and conditions.
- In partnership with NHS England (NHSE) and the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC), the RCN runs monthly webinars on the first Friday of every month between 1pm and 2pm. These are an opportunity for nurses in general practice to see examples of good practice, get an update from the RCN, NHSE and the RCN GPN Forum, hear from members and answer their questions.
