A number of GP surgeries in South and West Yorkshire have failed to use government money to give staff a pay rise as intended, says UNISON today (Tuesday).
The Department of Health and Social Care announced a pay rise of at least 6% for eligible dentists and doctors in July of last year. The announcement stated the increase would be “backdated to April 2023”, with an expectation that it “is passed on promptly to all salaried general practice staff”.
GP practices have control over how their funding is used because they are classed as “self-employed contractors” to the NHS.
But UNISON says surgeries across South and West Yorkshire – including Clifton Medical Centre in Rotherham and Brig Royd Surgery in Ripponden – have failed to use the government money to do what was expected and give a pay rise to staff.
The failure to pay is disappointing and unfair to hard-working staff, says the union. UNISON is also concerned that some practices have claimed their workers already had pay rises earlier in the year, when those increases were actually to meet the legal duty to comply with revised national minimum wage levels from April 2023.
The problem may be even more widespread with other examples yet to have been brought to the union’s attention, says UNISON.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Charlie Carruth said: “Money allocated to give staff a well-deserved pay increase should be used for exactly that.
“General practice staff are on the front line, dealing with anyone needing healthcare and often suffering unwarranted abuse.
“It’s wrong to deny them a rise because of one implemented earlier in the year, when that was solely to meet minimum-wage obligations.
“Those GP surgeries that haven’t used government funding to raise staff pay are urged to get on with it straight away.”
