GPNs can’t afford to keep being left out – have your say on pay today

Nursing in Practice’s new editor Megan Ford reflects on this week’s pay announcements for NHS nurses and argues those in general practice must have their say on their pay to show ministers they can no longer be left behind

Once again nurses working in general practice have found themselves left out of major announcements from the government on nursing pay.

This week’s announcement means a 3.3% pay rise has been greenlit for those on AfC – of which we know excludes the majority of GPNs – and thousands of NHS nurses have been promised a ‘career boost’ and job role review – again, omitting those in general practice.

I understand unions feel the government has not gone far enough on its pay promises for those on AfC, but GPNs don’t have a promise at all. They will once again wait for the recommendations from the pay review body for GPs and hope an annual increase is passed on. But we know that for many, this will not happen because it’s up to individual practices to decide.

And in terms of its career boosting agenda for NHS nurses, the government confirmed it would not be applicable to most GPNs. This means while those AfC nurses at Band 5 have a job role and pay review, GPNs will see nothing. And while graduates entering AfC roles have the promise of increased pay, those entering general practice will not.

The only part of the announcement that is up for negotiation is a new national nursing preceptorship scheme; at the time of writing the Department of Health and Social Care had still not clarified whether this would cover those in GP practices. I’m not sure it seems likely.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) wants to be part of government negotiations on the GP contract – especially given that practice managers now have a seat – so it can represent nurses in general practice and push for better pay, terms and conditions for the workforce. While the government has not yet budged, it’s key that GPNs keep fighting their case and showing ministers what the risk of losing this profession could mean for the health service.

This is where Nursing in Practice comes in and can help GPNs to do so.

I am writing this in my new role as editor of Nursing in Practice which I wanted to mark with the launch of a vital survey for our audience. And it seems particular timely that we launch it this week and ask GPNs to tell us more about their pay and terms and conditions.

By taking 10 minutes to complete our survey, which covers salaries, pensions, benefits and job satisfaction, GPNs help us to highlight the gap between their vital contribution and how they are rewarded, and the risks this poses to workforce sustainability.

We will use your findings to inform a detailed report that will be put on the desks of ministers and circulated among MPs. It will help us will help us make the case to those in power on why this is an issue that can no longer be ignored and that things must be improved. (And there’s an added bonus of a chance to win £200 if you leave your contact details in the survey too).

We’re also continuing to run our How Nurses Count campaign – a movement to champion the profession, share best practice and innovation, and encourage learning from each other. We are still looking for general practice nurses, advanced nurse practitioners, district nurses, community nurses, nurse partners, specialist nurses and more to share with us details about latest projects, clinics and initiatives they are running and leading.

Through short interviews with our news team, we hope to collate a bank of evidence on the safety-critical and pioneering work undertaken by nurses outside hospital settings. Get in contact with me today on [email protected] and help us show just how those working in primary and community care count.

I appreciate my first blog as editor is asking for your help as GPNs, by completing our survey or speaking with the news team, but I can assure readers that this is about improving the situation for the profession and the future GPNs to come. GPNs need change and Nursing in Practice wants to help.

Together we must shout louder than ever about this vital part of the profession and show the government why this is a workforce that is no longer prepared to be left behind.