RELATIONS between nurses and government “have never been so strained,” warned the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today as it was revealed nearly half of the industry had received no pay rise for the last year.

The union called for the immediate provision of ring-fenced funds after a survey found three in four nurses employed by GP practices had not been paid the 6 per cent rise they had been promised.

The RCN called for an overhaul of the pay system, which currently lets GP practices decide whether to pass on the full amount as their staff have different pay, terms and conditions from those in the NHS.

RCN England director Patricia Marquis said: “Nursing pay needs a fresh start – staff report feeling undervalued and undermined after over a decade of pay restraint, and late pay awards.”

The Department for Health and Social Care was contacted for comment.