Leading primary care group Operose Health has today announced all of their GP practice staff will earn at least 10 pence above the national or London Living Wage starting this month. The pledge, introduced to reward staff for their dedication to providing NHS primary care services, especially during the pandemic, will see over 500 staff across England get an immediate pay increase.
Welcoming the announcement, GP Director Hasnain Abassi said:
“The Operose Health Living Wage is our way of thanking our amazing staff for their commitment to our patients, especially over the last two years. Working in a GP practice can be challenging, so I am delighted that over 500 of our staff will be getting the recognition they deserve.
“We wanted to give more back to our staff, especially those working in front-line but lower paid roles like our reception and admin teams. The public were, rightly, out every week applauding NHS services during the pandemic, and it’s great to be able to put more of that pride we feel into their pay.”
- The Operose Health Group runs 66 GP practices across England.
- Over 97 percent of our practices are rated as Good or Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.
- The pledge is fully funded, is a permanent commitment and is an investment of over £1m this year.
- For this year, that means staff will earn a minimum of £10 per hour outside London, and £11.15 per hour in the capital.
- Operose Health is now accredited as a Living Wage Employer by the Living Wage Foundation.
Welcoming the announcement, Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation said:
“We all need a wage that meets our everyday needs, even more so when living costs have been rising so sharply. That’s why I’m delighted to welcome Operose Health as our newest Living Wage Employer, joining the movement of over 9,000 responsible employers across the UK, who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.
“We must not forget those key workers who have been instrumental to the survival of our businesses and our society, so we are thrilled to see Operose Health leading the way in rewarding our frontline health staff with a wage that meets their everyday needs, providing workers and families with stability and security.”