4 | Nursing in Practice | Spring 2022
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The latest news and analysis for nurses working in general practice and the community nursingin practice . co . uk
50,000 nurses pledge ‘ on track ’ but general practice sees no rise
The Government has claimed it is on track to achieve its target of 50,000 more nurses by March 2024 , although some groups of nursing staff have seen no improvement in their numbers .
In an update issued in the first week of March , the Department of Health and Social Care ( DHSC ) revealed the latest data show there are 27,000 more full-time-equivalent ( FTE ) nurses since the Government ’ s manifesto commitment – up from 300,904 in September 2019 to 327,907 in December 2021 .
However , despite this rise across all healthcare settings , there has been no growth in the number of FTE nurses in
RCN splits from other unions to call for pay rise ‘ 5 % above inflation ’
The RCN has called for a pay rise of 5 % above inflation for NHS staff on Agenda for Change ( AfC ) contracts in 2022 / 23 , in a split from other healthcare unions .
The Retail Price Index ( RPI ) measure of inflation was 7.5 % when the RCN submitted its evidence to the NHS pay review body , which advises the Government on NHS pay . This would mean a pay rise in the region of 12.5 % at current rates .
However , 13 other healthcare unions – including the Royal College of Midwives , Unison , GMB and Unite – said they had agreed a different collective pay position with the RCN , the shared nature of which they said was an ‘ essential element of the campaigning power necessary ’.
Rather than specify a percentage rise , the unions called for an uplift higher than inflation that would absorb the impact of pension contribution increases and be implemented alongside a ‘ retention package ’.
The RCN told Nursing in Practice it had nothing to add to discussions around the collective pay position the other healthcare unions said it had agreed to .
However , chief executive Pat Cullen warned more nursing staff would leave the profession if the Government did not pay the workforce ‘ fairly ’.
In February , the Government angered nursing groups by suggesting it was considering a pay rise of up to 3 % for NHS nurses and healthcare staff in England in 2022 / 23 .
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GPN expertise is ‘ underestimated ’ and ‘ poorly articulated ’
Practice nurses have ‘ vast ’ and ‘ complex ’ clinical skills , knowledge and expertise that is ‘ poorly articulated ’ by themselves and ‘ underestimated ’ by others , a report has found .
Research into general practice in England , undertaken in spring 2021 by consultancy Sonnet Impact and Sheffield Hallam University , warned raising the profile and value of the ‘ misunderstood ’ practice nurse role was ‘ urgent ’ amid workforce challenges and high demand .
To realise the full potential of general practice nursing , the NHS Long Term Plan must increase funding and renew focus on education , training and leadership opportunities , the report said .
The findings also informed a framework outlining eight areas where GPNs ‘ drive value ’ – including enabling self-care , facilitating support communities and developing specialisms .
GETTY X3 / ALAMY / JULIAN CLAXTON