RCN stands up for nursing staff in general practice at parliamentary event

RCN members and staff have told a cross-party group of MPs that nursing staff working in general practice face unfair employment conditions, at an MP roundtable focused on general practice nursing.

MPs who attended the event in the UK parliament want to support efforts to make conditions fairer for general practice nursing staff. Many were previously unaware of the scale of the challenges nursing staff are facing.

We raised key issues, including:

• pay, terms and conditions, how current arrangements fall short for general practice nursing staff
• the lack of recognition for nursing in the General Medical Services contract and how this results in no obligation for partnerships to offer fair pay, terms or conditions
• access to training and continuing professional development
• the importance of primary care nursing leadership in providing local strategic direction and influencing primary care discussions
• the limits general practice nursing staff have on their ability to advocate collectively. 

Above: Antonia Bance MP hosted the event

Executive Director of RCN England Patricia Marquis said: “This was a significant move forward in our fight for fair pay, terms and conditions, inclusion and recognition for nursing staff working in primary care.

“Nurses must play a central role in shaping, leading and delivering the health services for the population within primary care.

“The momentum is building, and we hope this growing snowball will soon become an avalanche of change.”

The RCN is fighting for all nursing staff to receive fair reward and recognition for the highly skilled, safety-critical work they do. Find out more about our campaign for fair pay for general practice nursing staff.

Photography by Justine Desmond