Funding for ARRS nurse roles outlined for 2026/27

New funding levels for nurses employed through the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS) within GP practices have been revealed following the government’s promise of a 3.3% pay increase for staff on the scheme.

The latest Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) specification, published last week, sets out the new reimbursable amounts for ARRS nursing roles for 2026/27.

The ARRS is used by primary care networks (PCNs) to reimburse salaries and on costs of general practice nurses (GPNs), advanced nurse practitioners and other nursing roles to work across GP practices.

The new reimbursement levels come as the government has confirmed that a 3.3% pay rise for NHS staff on Agenda for Change (AfC) for 2026/27 will also be applicable to ARRS nursing staff and other roles, and that ‘increased funding’ would be given to support this uplift.

It told our sister title Pulse PCN however that ARRS GPs would be given a 3.5% pay rise in line with recommendations of the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration (DDRB).

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According to the Network DES, PCNs can claim up to £46,447 for new to general practice nurses at Band 5 – increasing to £55,887 for inner London and £53, 527 for outer London.

For experienced GPNs at Band 6, PCNs can claim up to £57,114 – increasing to £68,426 for inner London and £65,054 for outer London.

Enhanced practice nurses at Band 7 can earn up to £69,515. This rises to £80,830 for inner London and £77,455 for outer London.

For advanced practitioner roles, including advanced practice nurses at Band 8a, PCNs can claim up to £78,534. This climbs to £89,848 for inner London and £86,474 for outer London.

PCNs can also claim up to £109,943 for consultant nurses primary care at Band 8c – rising to £121,258 for inner London and £117,883 for outer London.

For other roles such as the student nursing associates, previously titled trainee nursing associates, they are a Band 3 and can earn up to £34,469 (£41,962 for inner London and for outer it is £40,769) and nursing associates at Band 4 can earn up to £38,739 (£46,637 for inner London and £45,039 for outer London).

The ARRS scheme was launched in 2019 to reimburse the salaries of some staff who work in GP practices.

Initially, nurses were not included on the scheme with the focus being on clinical pharmacists, paramedics and others.

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However, enhanced practice nurses were added in April 2024, followed by GPNs in 2025.

Newly qualified GPs were also added to the scheme in late 2024, with this year’s GP contract expanding this to also include experienced GPs.

Last week, the government announced it had accepted headline pay recommendations of the independent pay review body for GPs – the DDRB – and that salaried practice staff, including GPNs, in England would be entitled to a 3.5% pay rise for 2026/27.

It is typically down to GP practices to pass on pay rises to salaried practice staff following an uplift to the pay element of the GP contract.

However, many GPNs miss out on annual uplifts because funding for their pay and conditions is not ringfenced in the same way that it is for GPs.

The Network DES also clarified last week that a controversial accreditation scheme for advanced practice nurses in general practice will no longer be a mandatory requirement for recruitment under the ARRS.

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