Medical Secretary interview at GP surgery

[Miriamk7]

I've worked for the NHS as a medical secretary for the last couple of years and have an interview next week for medical Secretary role at my local GP surgery. Much better in terms of hours and location. With the NHS it's a band 4 pay grade, but I'm curious what the rate would likely be in a GP surgery. The advert said salary is dependent on experience, so could I expect to be able to negotiate anything near the equivalent of NHS band 4 pay? I've been for a couple of other secretary interviews recently away from the NHS and the pay offered has been either minimal wage or just over. This seems quite dismal for a well qualified and experienced medical secretary.. What are other people's experiences?

My friend works at a GP practice....doesn’t even get the eviqualent of band 2 pay.....and the sickness benefits and annual leave are no where near as generous as the NHS.....but I guess they are all different...hope it works out for you

I have just left a GP practice ,after working in the NHS for many years I wasn’t prepared to accept the miserable term and conditions. I went for the GP job same reasons as you, better hrs and more local.
I don’t want to put you off but it’s a massive culture shock, GP surgeries are just private companies, and run as such.
The medical secretaries earned 90p more than minimum wage ....I kid you not. Just 20 days annual leave and no sick pay, just statutory.
Non of the t and Cs are disclosed at interview unless you really push.
So, when you feel badly done to in the NHS just think about private GP surgeries!
If you’re happy to take the compromise that’s fine, I couldn’t, as the whole environment just wasn’t very nice. I felt on edge if I went to to loo once too often or needed to go and make a hot drink.
I just want you to really think hard and don’t make the same mistake I did.

Thanks for the replies.
Cazz246, wow that's shocking about medical secretaries earning just over the minimum wage. Scandalous. In the NHS it's a well-paid and "prestigious" job. Not sure I fancy the idea of working for what essentially would be private company, will have to make sure I ask enough questions about the conditions etc.
I just hope the pay is negotiable based on experience (as the advert says), not too sound arrogant or anything but I'm in my 30's with about 10 years total experience as a secretary and PA, not a school leaver.
If they Ts and Cs aren't brought up at interview I'll bring them up myself.
The bits about going to the loo and getting up to make a hot drink sound more like issues that would be in a call centre type of place.. As a student I worked in a call centre and if you were seen going to the toilet within the last 30 minutes of shift then you'd be questioned on it the next day... Sigh.

@Abitodd

Awful pay in GP surgery I’m on barely band 2 equivalent in the NHS I’d be on a band 4 for what I’m doing. I’m looking for other jobs.

Abitodd - Are you a medical secretary? (If you don't mind me asking). Are something along those lines? Just trying to weigh up and decide if it's actually WORTH going to the interview. The advert said the pay depends on experience, so I'm HOPING that might give me some "leverage" and room for for negotiation.

I'm a medical secretary and only a band three. New med sec posts aren't band 4 anymore unless they have additional responsibilities. Pay is not great, and I had a little giggle about it being a prestigious job, not ime!

@Miriamk7 I’ve never worked in a call centre, but, yes, that’s exactly how I imagine it would be..... I once went to the loo and wash my cup out twenty minutes before the end of my shift, the daggers I got from the line manager was ridiculous, I felt like a five year old in school!