Practice staff at Balderton Primary Care Centre, run by Operose Health, to earn above the National Living Wage

A care group that runs a Balderton doctor's surgery has announced all of its GP practice staff will earn above the National Living Wage.

Primary care group Operose Health, which operates Balderton Primary Care Centre on Lowfield Lane, will see its practice workers earn at least £10 an hour from this month, 10p more than the National Living Wage.

The Operose Health Living Wage will see an immediate pay increase for around 28 staff at Balderton, including reception and admin staff and health care assistants.

Operose Health runs 66 practices nationally, with 97% currently rated as good or outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.

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 our staff in Nottingham and over 500 nationally 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 Living Wage is fully funded, is a permanent commitment and is additional investment of over £1m this year.

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.

Katherine Chapman, director of the 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 front-line health staff with a wage that meets their everyday needs, providing workers and families with stability and security.”