Thousands of staff in general practice may not get a pay rise because of allocation formulas, GP and nursing representatives have warned.

Staff have been promised a 6% pay increase – and a 6% increase in funding allocations to practices is due next month.

However, the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing have warned that not all practices will receive the 6% because of the way funding is allocated. The BMA has now promised to include the issue of pay in contractual talks, aiming to ensure staff pay is ring-fenced in future.

Patricia Marquis, RCN director for England, said: “The RCN is unequivocal that all nursing staff working in general practice should receive the same 6% increase in pay as salaried GPs – as the government announced in July. Since that time, it has become clear that this promised increase is at risk for many working in practices that will not receive the full funding. Our members working in general practice play a critical role in preventative care, early detection and addressing the backlog in primary care services. They already feel undervalued, and uncertainty over whether they will receive a pay uplift which your department made clear they are entitled to but may never come, will only compound this.”

Meanwhile talks over a new GP contract in Wales yesterday ended in stalemate. The British Medical Association’s GP committee said it was unhappy with the proposed financial settlement.

Dr Gareth Oelmann, its chair in Wales, said: “With no credible financial offer on the table and no tangible mitigations offered, prolonging the negotiation process would be futile. Unless there are any new and significant proposals brought to the table by Welsh Government, we do not foresee any further discussions on this year’s contract.

“Our Save Our Surgeries campaign lays bare the impact of long-term underinvestment in general practice and its consequent impacts upon workload, workforce and wellbeing. Despite the remarkable efforts of hardworking GPs in Wales, 80% fear they are unable to provide quality and safe care to patients due to their excessive workloads, diminishing workforce, and the rising demands on the service.

“We entered into negotiations in good faith, giving Welsh Government the opportunity to address these longstanding issues. We had hoped that through the contract negotiation process, we would reach a settlement that would put general practice in Wales on the right track. It will therefore be particularly galling to the profession across Wales that there is nothing resembling a ‘rescue package’ for general practice on the table.”