Poor maternity pay ‘putting off’ nurses from general practice

Young nurses are being deterred from a career in general practice because of poor terms and conditions, including inadequate maternity and sick pay, a senior nurse has warned.

Speaking as part of a wider interview for our newly launched podcast, Frances Baverstock, lead nurse for primary care at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in Wales, told Nursing in Practice that she had seen firsthand the ‘opportunities’ that primary care can offer, but also the harsh realities that mean many practice nurses ‘cannot afford’ to have children and stay in the role.

An exclusive survey revealed earlier this year that only 5% of general practice nursing staff are given maternity pay above statutory levels and less than a third (32%) say they are given occupational sick pay above statutory levels. 

Ms Baverstock stressed the need for general practice nurses (GPNs) to have ‘equity’ with colleagues on NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) terms and conditions.

‘We need a national approach to pay and conditions that recognises our value,’ she stressed.

Related Article: NHSE confirms funding for salaried practice nurse pay rise

The lack of standardised employment benefits is, according to Ms Baverstock, a deterrent for new talent entering the profession.

‘A lot of nurses are unable to get sick pay, they haven’t got maternity or paternity cover. That puts people off – especially younger nurses who may be thinking about starting a family,’ she told Nursing in Practice. 

‘I speak to a lot of nurses and encourage them to come into general practice, and they say, “no, I just can’t afford to”,  and that’s not the way it should be.’

Ms Baverstock reflected on her experience of having a child in 2005.

‘When I had my second child, I went back to work when she was five weeks old, because I could not afford to stay off work,’ she said.

‘My other friends and colleagues were having nine months off, a year off. That is just not fair, and it’s still happening now,’ she said.

Ms Baverstock stressed that GPNs must be recognised as ‘highly skilled, autonomous, exceptionally knowledgeable’ professionals who deserve both fair pay and adequate employment protections.

In July, the government told Nursing in Practice that a new substantive GP contract in England – due by 2028 – ‘could address’ practice nurse terms and conditions.

Related Article: RCN lodges formal nurse pay dispute with Northern Ireland government

The Department of Health and Social Care’s comment came in response to concerns raised on social media by England’s primary care nursing lead, Louise Brady, who urged the government to ensure practice nurses are given an annual pay rise and above statutory maternity, paternity and sick pay.

Ms Brady said these conditions should be delivered nationally as part of the GP contract and ‘must be a priority for patient safety’.

An exclusive Nursing in Practice report published earlier this year added weight to concerns about poor terms and conditions for GPNs.

One nurse team lead who completed the survey informing our report said: ‘We have just lost a valued member of staff due to a poor maternity leave offer. Staff morale is low regarding pay.’

Another GPN said that moving from an NHS role into general practice was a ‘shock’ because of the disparities in benefits.

GPN terms and conditions were also among the issues discussed in a Nursing in Practice roundtable last year.

Related Article: GPNs: Recruiting but not always retaining

One roundtable attendee – Joanna Vintis, nurse lead and head of workforce development for Newcastle GP services – said she had advised nurses to avoid a career in general practice if they were looking to start a family soon because ‘maternity pay is nowhere near what the trusts offer’.

Click here, to listen to The Nursing in Practice Podcast episode in full – where Ms Baverstock joins the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) professional lead for primary care Kim Ball to discuss how the recently published 10-year plan could impact practice nursing and considers whether GPNs are sufficiently championed in primary care.

 You can subscribe to our newly launched podcast on Spotify or Apple Music to be alerted when new episodes are released.