Participation urged in general practice nurse pay parity survey

The survey issued today to collect information about nurses and kaiāwhina working in general practice is an important step in addressing the pay gap between hospital staff and their primary care colleagues, according to GPNZ.

GPNZ absolutely acknowledges this current exercise has a much narrower scope than ideal but nevertheless see is it as a positive move and hope that as many practices as possible will participate.

GPNZ Chair Dr Bryan Betty says at the practice level it is critical to be able to recruit, retain and develop more nurses in order to deliver the care and support our population needs, to promote wellbeing, and to limit the burden of illness on whānau and our hospitals.

“This can only be achieved if Government funding is made available to ensure that general practice nursing is an attractive and valued career choice.

“GPNZ strongly believes nurses working in general practice need to be remunerated and supported fairly and on a par with their Te Whatu Ora-employed counterparts. It is plainly wrong that a significant pay disparity exists between professionals employed in different parts of our health system.”

Despite significant funding challenges we know many practices have made the decision to pay their nurses above the primary care MECA in order to compete with the DHB MECA and avoid further attrition to more lucrative roles in the hospital sector. This decision, without access to funding, inevitably means compromises need to be made elsewhere within the practice.

“We have sought assurances these such practices are not unfairly disadvantaged by either the
percentage or quantum of money they receive should this funding bid be successful,” says Dr Betty.

Dr Betty said that he understood the Treasury requirements in order for the appropriated funding to be drawn down, and the tight timeframes in which Te Whatu Ora is working to ensure necessary information is available.

And he added “We appreciate the responsiveness Te Whatu Ora have shown while working with sector representatives on the potential to include nurses and some kaiāwhina employed in general practice in tranche three of the $200m pay parity funding available. They have listened to concerns and worked to incorporate feedback from our sector, while navigating their own constraints and limitations.”

GPNZ has written to Abbe Anderson, Te Whatu Ora’s National Director, Commissioning to outline our supportive position while documenting our concerns, in particular assurances that no practice will be disadvantaged, and that any payment approved is made promptly after 1 July.

Dy Betty reiterated that this is merely one small part of a much wider and urgent piece of work required to adequately fund general practice, and to invest in and support its workforce for the good of our communities.

“We know there is a long way to go, but this represents a real opportunity to get more money to our nurses right now. It is now up to practices to give their best to this process, ensuring adequate information is gathered to support a successful application for general practice nurses to access a fair share of the $200m available.”

The Health Minister’s decision on whether nurses employed in general practice are included in the next tranche of pay parity funding is expected shortly.