More than 1000 general practice nurses have been laid off since the beginning of March and one-in-three have had working hours reduced, a national survey suggests.

GP nurses are pleading with practice owners to keep them in work during the COVID-19 lockdown, as practices look to cut costs to compensate for diminishing revenue from face-to-face care.

The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) says there has been a “knee-jerk reaction” from some practices, who responded to the initial downturn in patient numbers by offloading staff.

It says nearly two-thirds of the 14,500 nurses working in general practice have been put on notice about potential reductions to their paid work since lockdown measures began last month.