Scottish Practice Nurses Association

Scottish Practice Nurses Association

Working for Practice Nurses in Scotland

Membership Pay Scale Survey Results

SPNA carried out a membership online survey in October/November 2014, the aim of which was to gain an insight into Practice Nurses pay and conditions across Scotland and how these can vary on each level.

The results of the survey have been collated and are now available; these have been collated according to specialist responsibility levels.

Key Points From Our Survey

Aim: to gain insight into GPN pay and conditions following request from membership.

Results: collated into Level 5 (“Practitioner”) to Level 8 (“Consultant Practitioner”)

Response rate:

·  44% of our members responded.(Membership at time was 620)

·  Highest % response Greater Glasgow, Edinburgh and Fife

·  Vast majority (85.8%) were “general practice nurses”

·  11% were “nurse practitioners” or “advance nurse practitioners”

Survey Results

·  Nearly 80% not paid according to Agenda for Change pay scale

·  Nearly 50% had no practice pay scale either

·  More than 70% have no increments

·  76% had no bonus

·  24% had a bonus in 2014, often at Christmas

·  Sick pay and holiday pay widely variable

Rates of Pay

·  Average hourly rate overall £16.69

·  Average level 5 rate £14.93

·  Average level 6 rate £16.40

·  Average level 7 rate £18.93

·  Average bonus £481.53

For information, membership numbers at 26th March 2015 are listed in the table below

Region / Total
Ayrshire & Arran / 54
Borders / 9
Dumfries & Galloway / 22
Edinburgh & Lothian / 93
Fife / 82
Forth Valley / 47
Grampian / 54
Greater Glasgow / 88
Highland / 51
Lanarkshire / 41
Paisley & Renfrew / 85
Tayside / 59
685

Definition of Levels:

Level 5 Practitioner level

Level 6 Senior level

Level 7 Advance Practitioner

Level 8 Consultant Practitioner

Other Not falling into any of the above

No level provided survey completed but level has not been indicated on response

Q1 Please indicate which region your practice is in:

Answer Options / % / Count / Level 5 / Level 6 / Level 7 / Level 8 / Other / No Level Provided
Ayrshire & Arran / 8.2% / 22 / 7 / 7 / 5 / 3
Borders / 0.0% / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Dumfries & Galloway / 2.6% / 7 / 2 / 4 / 1
Edinburgh & Lothian / 16.0% / 43 / 12 / 22 / 8 / 1
Fife / 13.1% / 35 / 7 / 15 / 11 / 1 / 1
Forth Valley / 8.2% / 22 / 4 / 5 / 10 / 2 / 1
Grampian / 9.0% / 24 / 6 / 11 / 6 / 1
Greater Glasgow / 20.5% / 55 / 8 / 34 / 11 / 1 / 1
Highland / 8.2% / 22 / 5 / 9 / 7 / 1
Lanarkshire / 4.1% / 11 / 0 / 7 / 3 / 1
Paisley & Renfrew / 1.9% / 5 / 0 / 3 / 1 / 1
Tayside / 8.2% / 22 / 9 / 8 / 5
answered question / 268 / 60 / 125 / 68 / 1 / 5 / 9
skipped question / 6 / 1 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 2

Q2 Your job title:

Answer Options / % / Count / Level 5 / Level 6 / Level 7 / Level 8 / Other / No levels given
General Practice Nurse / 85.8% / 230 / 55 / 117 / 46 / 5 / 7
Nurse Practitioner / 9.3% / 25 / 2 / 10 / 11 / 1 / 1
Advanced Nurse Practitioner / 3.7% / 10 / 0 / 0 / 9 / 1
Treatment Room Nurse / 1.1% / 3 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0
answered question / 268 / 60 / 127 / 66 / 1 / 5 / 9
skipped question / 6 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 2

Q3 Specialist responsibilities – please indicate which level applies to your role:

Answer Options & Details / Percent / Count
Level 5 Practitioner Level / 23.2% / 61
prescriber Practice Nurse
although a lead practice nurse for a locality and at work
Level 6 Senior Level / 48.7% / 128
PN tasks++
team leader
practice nurse
Am not educated to degree level but in charge 4 members of staff
No degree. College trained in the 80's!
senior nurse in practice with 12 years in general practice
combined role of nurse practitioner doing Telephone Triage
Level 7 Advanced Practitioner / 25.9% / 68
I have a Bachelor of Nursing degree from Glasgow University 1990 and a BSc in Tissue Viability from Stirling University 2012 and have recently passed non medical prescribing with a level 1 pass at master’s level. I work closely with the practice manager to develop the nursing team and am involved in training of HCA. I recently supported my colleague through the NES GPN course.
But paid at level 6
BSC community Nurses & Independent non medical prescribing
Nurse Partner
participating in adv. practice course at the moment
being paid at level 6
Prescriber
independent prescriber
Level 8 Consultant Practitioner / 0.4% / 1
Other / 1.9% / 5
Grade G
Lead Diabetic specialist nurse
we are still on whitley pay scale F have been so for over 10 yrs. plus never been reassessed to banding level
Have completed 3 courses at degree level and am nurse prescriber but don’t have degree so? which level
Agenda for change levels not used
No level specified / 11
Practice Nurse Partner so employer responsibilities
equal to low level 7
G grade
answered question / 263
skipped question / 11

Q4 How many hours per week do you work?

Hours / Level 5 / Level 6 / Level 7 / Level 8 / Other / Levels not given
<10 hours / 2 / 2 / 1
12 hours / 1
14 hours / 1 / 1 / 1
15 hours / 2 / 1
16 hours / 2 / 4 / 2 / 1
17 hours / 1
18 hours / 2 / 1 / 1 / 2
19 hours / 3 / 1
20 hours / 6 / 3 / 5 / 1 / 1
21 hours / 3 / 2
22 hours / 4 / 4 / 3
23 hours / 3 / 1 / 2
24 hours / 4 / 6 / 7
25 hours / 2 / 4 / 2
26 hours / 3 / 7
27 hours / 1 / 5 / 1
28 hours / 3 / 7 / 3
29 hours / 1 / 2 / 1
30 hours / 5 / 12 / 4 / 1
32 hours / 4 / 6
33 hours / 4 / 2
34 hours / 1 / 7
35 hours / 1 / 2 / 4 / 1 / 1
36 hours / 1
37 hours / 4 / 18 / 15 / 1
38 hours / 1 / 2
> 40 hours / 1
Varies / 2 / 2 / 1
answered question 232 / 53 / 105 / 58 / 1 / 5 / 10
skipped question 42 / 8 / 23 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 1

Q5 What is your hourly rate?

Hourly Rate / Level 5 / Level 6 / Level 7 / Level 8 / Other / Level not given
£11.00 / 4 / 1
£12.00 / 8 / 1
£13.00 / 3 / 4 / 1 / 2
£14.00 / 10 / 10 / 1
£15.00 / 13 / 14 / 3 / 3 / 1
£16.00 / 4 / 21 / 11 / 1 / 1
£17.00 / 7 / 33 / 8 / 1
£18.00 / 1 / 8 / 10 / 2
£19.00 / 1 / 8 / 1
£20.00 / 10 / 1
£21.00 / 1 / 2
£22.00 / 1
£23.00
£24.00
£26.00 / 1
Profit Share / 1
Don’t know / 1 / 1 / 1
Answered question 217 / 51 / 96 / 55 / 1 / 5 / 9
Skipped question 57 / 10 / 32 / 13 / 0 / 0 / 2

Q6 Are you paid according to Agenda For Change?

Answer Options / % / Count / Level 5 / Level 6 / Level 7 / Level 8 / Other / Levels not given
Yes / 20.8% / 47 / 7 / 21 / 16 / 0 / 0 / 1
No / 79.2% / 179 / 45 / 81 / 40 / 1 / 5 / 9
answered question / 226 / 52 / 102 / 56 / 1 / 5 / 10
skipped question / 48 / 9 / 26 / 12 / 0 / 0 / 1

Q7 Are you paid according to practice scales?

Answer Options / % / Count / Level 5 / Level 6 / Level 7 / Level 8 / Other / Level not given
Yes / 56.7% / 123 / 27 / 59 / 31 / 1 / 2 / 4
No / 43.3% / 94 / 21 / 39 / 25 / 0 / 3 / 5
answered question / 217 / 48 / 98 / 56 / 1 / 5 / 9
skipped question / 57 / 13 / 30 / 12 / 0 / 0 / 2

Q8 Is your pay incremented?

Answer Options / % / Count / Level 5 / Level 6 / Level 7 / Level 8 / Other / Levels not given
Yes / 26.1% / 59 / 9 / 28 / 17 / 1 / 1 / 3
No / 71.2% / 161 / 40 / 70 / 40 / 0 / 4 / 7
Decline to answer / 2.7% / 6 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
answered question / 226 / 226 / 51 / 101 / 58 / 1 / 5 / 10
skipped question / 48 / 48 / 10 / 27 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 1

Please give details:

Level 5 Details
It was in the past, but not regularly now.
but only by 2% in the last 3.5 years
Whitley G grade
I have been informed I can go up one more increment
Level 6 Details
now at top increment
Wage was as for a Grade G. Unsure how this relates to Agenda for Change
at top of practice scale, but got 1% pay uplift this year
Whitley Scale is used and updated, but less than Agenda for Change, I have had no increments as I was at the top of G grade when I started this post 9 years ago
I am unsure about this. Just started here
as per whitley scale
at top increment
have not had an increment in 7 yrs.
same as whitley scale
old whitley scale
Level 7 details
Practice based scale
only agreed this year
Since starting have asked for incremented pay
Adapted from agenda for change so has same banding and increments. Also increases if government gives pay award annually
got the 2 increments to the H grade years ago
Reached full increments
I have been at the top of my increment (top H grade as per whitely scale) for 5 years!!!
At full increment for last 10 years
Reached my max a number of years ago!
Not automatically though.
Level 8 details
received an upgrade last year which gives me new increments, before that was static on the top of my grade for several years
Other details
was but at maximum over 8 years ago
Levels not provided details
I am at top increment

Q9 Did you receive a bonus last year?

Answer Options / % / Count / Level 5 / Level 6 / Level 7 / Level 8 / Other / Levels not given
Yes / 23.8% / 54 / 11 / 23 / 16 / 1 / 2 / 1
No / 76.2% / 173 / 41 / 79 / 42 / 0 / 3 / 8
If yes, are you willing to say how much? / 50
answered question / 227 / 52 / 102 / 58 / 1 / 5 / 9
skipped question / 47 / 9 / 26 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 2
Bonus Details
Level 5 / 1%
£70
£100
£100
£100 xmas bonus - gets taxed
£1,500
£50
£50 at xmas
£80 at Christmas
APPROX 1 WEEKS PAY
half percent
However I only started in March
Level 6 / £100
£120
£150
£200
£700
£750
£770
5,000
1% annual pay
2 weeks wages
£100
£100
£100
£100
£100 Christmas bonus
£300 paid in two £150 bonus amounts before tax
£350
due 1.600 this year
have received £200 in a few previous years
Is there such a thing!
Level 7 / 1%
12
100
1200
1% pay rise
200.00 before tax
£1,000
£1,000
£1,500
£250
£300
£300 but £240 after tax
£600
£80
ha ha are you kidding?
xmas bonus
Level 8 / -
Other / £300
£700
No Levels Given / £30

Q10 Do you receive sick pay?

Answer Options / % / Count / Level 5 / Level 6 / Level 7 / Level 8 / Other / No levels given
Yes / 92.0% / 205 / 40 / 95 / 57 / 1 / 5 / 7
No / 6.0% / 15 / 6 / 6 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 1
Not sure / 2.0% / 5 / 3 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
answered question / 225 / 49 / 102 / 60 / 1 / 5 / 8
skipped question / 49 / 12 / 26 / 8 / 0 / 0 / 3
No of weeks on full pay / Level 5 / Level 6 / Level 7 / Level 8 / Other / No level given
1 week / 2 / 1
2 weeks / 2 / 2
4 weeks / 2 / 4 / 3
6 weeks / 5 / 4 / 5
8 weeks / 3 / 7 / 6
12 weeks / 9 / 21 / 12 / 1 / 1
16 weeks / 2 / 1
18 weeks / 1
24 weeks / 2 / 5 / 1 / 1 / 1
26 weeks / 2 / 13 / 16 / 1 / 1
36 weeks / 1
Discretionary / 1 / 2 / 2
Not sure / 8 / 14 / 9 / 2 / 1
Not answered / 25 / 52 / 12 / 8
weeks on half pay / Level 5 / Level 6 / Level 7 / Level 8 / Other / No level given
None / 3 / 2 / 2
1 week / 1
2 weeks / 1
4 weeks / 2 / 3 / 3
5 weeks / 1
6 weeks / 2 / 3 / 4
8 weeks / 2 / 5 / 5
12 weeks / 8 / 14 / 9 / 1
16 weeks / 3 / 1
18 weeks
24 weeks / 2 / 3 / 1 / 1 / 2
26 weeks / 2 / 13 / 15 / 1 / 1
36 weeks / 1
Discretionary / 1 / 2
Not sure / 6 / 15 / 7 / 2 / 1
Not answered / 31 / 64 / 20 / 0 / 0 / 8

Q11 How many weeks annual leave do you receive?

No of weeks / Level 5 / Level 6 / Level 7 / Level 8 / Other / Level not given
3 weeks / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
4 weeks / 8 / 10 / 2 / 1
5 weeks / 26 / 54 / 32 / 2 / 3
6 weeks / 11 / 33 / 19 / 1 / 2 / 1
7 weeks / 2 / 1 / 1
8 weeks / 1 / 3
Unsure / 1 / 1 / 1
Answered question 220 / 47 / 101 / 59 / 1 / 5 / 7
Skipped question 54 / 14 / 27 / 9 / 0 / 0 / 4

Q12 How many bank holidays do you receive?

Answer Options / Level 5 / Level 6 / Level 7 / Level 8 / Other / No level given
None / 1 / 1 / 2 / 1
1 day / 1 / 1
2 days / 1 / 1
3 days / 1
4 days / 2 / 3 / 1 / 1
5 days / 4 / 11 / 1 / 1 / 3
6 days / 3 / 7 / 2
7 days / 2 / 3 / 2
8 days / 14 / 21 / 14 / 1
9 days / 5
10 days / 18 / 36 / 32 / 1 / 1 / 1
11 days / 1 / 2
included in annual leave / 1 / 4 / 4
Not sure / 2
answered question 214 / 47 / 98 / 58 / 1 / 5 / 5
skipped question 60 / 14 / 30 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 6

Q13 How long have you been a registered nurse / RGN?

Answer Options / Level 5 / Level 6 / Level 7 / Level 8 / Other / No level given
10 years or less / 9 / 9 / 2 / 2
11 years / 1 / 1
12 years / 2 / 1 / 1
13 years / 1
14 years / 1 / 1
16 years / 2 / 1
17 years / 2 / 1
18 years / 3 / 1
19 years / 2
20 years / 3 / 4
21 years / 1 / 2 / 2
22 years / 2 / 4 / 5
23 years / 2 / 1 / 1
24 years / 1 / 5 / 2
25 years / 2 / 3 / 3
26 years / 2 / 2
27 years / 2 / 6 / 1 / 1 / 1
28 years / 1 / 3 / 2 / 1
29 years / 5 / 3 / 1
30 years / 4 / 5 / 7 / 1
31 years / 6 / 2 / 1 / 1
32 years / 4 / 3 / 1
33 years / 4 / 2 / 1
34 years / 2 / 4 / 4
35 years / 2 / 2 / 1
36 years / 1 / 1
37 years / 2 / 5 / 1
38 years / 1 / 2 / 1 / 1
39 years / 1 / 1
40 years or more / 2 / 6 / 2
answered question 201 / 46 / 89 / 53 / 1 / 5 / 7
skipped question 73 / 15 / 39 / 15 / 0 / 0 / 4

Q14 How many years have you worked as a GPN?