News

Poll reveals 78% of nurses want more pay for extended hours

03-Mar-08

More than three quarters of nurses will not work extended hours in GP practices unless they receive higher rates of pay, an exclusive Independent Nurse poll has revealed.

Of 148 nurses who took part, 78 per cent said they would not work any extended hours unless GPs paid unsocial hours rates.

Some 53 per cent said they would not work Saturdays, while 44 per cent said they would not work evenings or before 8am under any circumstances.

The findings suggest nurses are heading for a clash with employers, because, while 81 per cent believe their working hours will change if their practice takes on extended hours, 69 per cent do not believe their practice will top up their pay.

A total of 64 per cent of nurses said their practice had not discussed extended opening hours with them. Some 55 per cent said their practice was planning to open longer, but only half of this group had been consulted, while 33 per cent had no idea if their practice would extend opening.

According to 96 per cent of respondents, there should have been national consultation with nurses over extended hours.

RCN Practice Nurse Association chair Kate Howie warned that if GPs failed to discuss changes or offer additional pay, nurses could walk out on general practice.

One respondent to the survey said: 'I feel very frustrated that changes are going to be implemented without consulting nurses.'

Another nurse wrote: 'There is no way on Earth I am going to work Saturdays for basic rate. I would rather leave nursing altogether.'

The impact on daytime services was also a concern. 'I will have to alter my working hours, which means we will have less cover during the day,' one respondent warned.

The BMA's survey asking GPs whether the profession would accept extended hours was due to close as Independent Nurse went to press.

RCN says unsocial hours pay should apply

The RCN says practice-based nurses should receive unsocial hours pay worth at least time plus 30 per cent for working Saturdays, evenings or early mornings.

RCN senior employment relations adviser Gerry O'Dwyer said: 'NHS nurses who work Saturdays, nights or evenings are paid time plus 30 per cent. On Sundays and public holidays they have time plus 60 per cent - that should be the baseline for nurses working extended hours in general practice. Where an employer seeks to change a contract of employment the nurse should seek further advice from the RCN or their own union.'

Comment below and tell us what you think

Comments

lisa tupman

06/03/2008

I came into Practice Nursing years ago because I knew the role would develope. Not because I wanted to work Monday to Friday

Huseinali Anwarali Rajabali Mawji

14/03/2008

My practice stands to lose an estimated £22,000 if we refuse to provide extended opening. This loss will be borne by the GP principals - I think not one of our nurses will offer to take a pay cut in recognition of our hard times. If we offer extended opening on a Saturday the cost of our overheads, and our office and nursing staff pay (at even basic rate) will swallow up the Access DES money that will be paid to us. The net result: the nurses and staff will be paid basic rates for doing the extra hours, and the GPs will be coming in for no extra money whatsoever. If we elect to pay our staff time+30% the net result is that the partners will take a pay cut (if we haven't already) to come in and work extra Saturday mornings. Perhaps you should look towards your practice teams and appreciate the huge risks and concerns the GP principals face, whilst the employed staff have protected salaries, before complaining about the level of extra pay you might receive.

Only registered users may comment. Log in now or register for a free account.