Contract agreement confirms 4% pay uplift for general practice nurses in Wales

The Welsh Government has confirmed that general practice staff – including general practice nurses (GPNs) – will receive a 4% pay uplift in 2025/26, as part of a £41.9m funding agreement.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Wales welcomed the investment but insisted it leaves practice nurses behind their NHS counterparts.

Helen Whyley, executive director of RCN Wales, said: ‘For RCN Wales general practice nurse members, this funding does not yet go far enough to improve their working terms and conditions and give them equal benefits as their NHS colleagues.’

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The RCN had previously raised concerns that pay uplifts for practice nurses are not always passed on by GP employers, prompting the Welsh Government to ask GP practices to confirm that any agreed pay increase has been passed on to GPNs.

The latest pay deal followed negotiations between the Welsh Government, NHS Wales and the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee Wales.

The RCN expressed disappointment at not being involved in talks, despite requesting a place at the negotiating table.

Ms Whyley said the RCN now wants to see nurses represented in the working groups that will shape future reforms.

‘We’re calling on the Welsh Government and NHS Wales to set out clearly how this funding will be used to support the career development and retention of general practice nurses, to commit to funding leadership roles for nurses in every primary care cluster, and to ensure nurses are included in future service contracts and workforce planning as the GMS allocation formula is reviewed.’

The announced package includes £37.9m in new money and the re-investment of £4m in additional capacity funding. A further 5.8% recurrent increase is guaranteed from 2026/27.

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The deal commits to reviewing the general medical services contract funding formula – the first comprehensive assessment in more than two decades.

Practices will receive a 1.77% expenses increase to offset rising costs, while the partnership premium will be raised to help retain experienced clinicians.

Health secretary Jeremy Miles described the settlement as proof of the government’s long-term commitment to general practice.

‘The 4% pay uplift ensures fair recognition for GPs and practice staff who work tirelessly to deliver care for communities across our country,’ he said.

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Dr Gareth Oelmann, chair of the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee Wales, said the agreement marked ‘a positive step towards restoring years of underinvestment’ and would bring much-needed stability to practices.

RCN Wales last week revealed that the number of registered nurses working in general practice in Wales has fallen by 3.6% over the past year, even as the number of GPs has risen.