Nursing in Practice survey quoted in Parliament

A Royal College of Nursing (RCN) leader cited findings from a forthcoming Nursing in Practice survey in Parliament yesterday as she warned that immunisation delivery could be put at risk by general practice nurses (GPNs) leaving the profession.

Kim Ball, professional lead for primary care at the RCN, was speaking at a meeting of the House of Lords Special Inquiry Committee into childhood vaccination rates on 20 April.

She said that GPNs were ‘pivotal’ to immunisation delivery but flagged that the workforce was struggling due to inequitable pay and conditions.

GPNs’ pay and conditions are not ringfenced and because it is typically down to GP practices to pass on government pay rises to nurses, many GPNs miss out.

She cited unpublished findings from a new Nursing in Practice survey, which will be launched next week, to highlight concerns about GPNs intending to leave the profession because of pay issues.

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Ms Ball said that funding concerns needed to be addressed to avoid nurses leaving.

‘With our workforce in general practice, we are really struggling at the moment,’ she said.

‘We are not included in the GP contract, and therefore…many general practice nurses won’t have access to equitable pay terms and conditions.

‘And that’s really key because we want nurses to work in general practice. We want them to become experts in immunisation.

‘However, if we can’t retain them, because general practice is not receiving sufficient funding to meet the same offers that are being offered in other health areas, how are we expected to retain that workforce?’ said Ms Ball.

She added that there was a wish among the workforce to stay in general practice.

‘However, the survey data completed by Nursing in Practice recently has shown that a large number of general practice nurses intend to leave,’ said Ms Ball.

‘We need to really focus on the workforce if we’re ever going to have a successful vaccination programme,’ she added.

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The government has recommended a 3.5% pay rise for salaried GPNs in England for 2026/27 based on guidance from the independent pay review body for GPs, the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB).

NHS England said it ‘expects’ GP practices to pass on the full uplift  to nurses and other salaried staff. However, RCN president Bejoy Sebastian has highlighted that the ‘final decision rests with employers’.

Ms Ball also told the committee that GPNs are not ‘solely focused’ on immunisations and therefore face competing priorities.

‘One of the challenges we have in primary care is capacity and access.

‘And it’s really challenging to have meaningful conversations about immunisation. “How do vaccines work? What’s included in the vaccination?”’ she said.

She added: ‘We have to realise that that is much more than a jab. It’s a conversation. It’s continuity of care.

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‘I’ve built long-standing relationships with my patients and every conversation matters.

‘[We try] to alleviate any parental concern, try to offer reassurance, try to offer safety nets within small appointment times and with competing priorities within general practice.’

Nursing in Practice’s GPN Pay Report will be published at Nursing in Practice London on 30 April.