Community Nursing Union Demands Urgent Review of Mileage Allowance

CDNA statement critical of Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt for not offering help to Community Nurses over increasing fuel prices, putting patient visits at risk.

The Community and District Nursing Association (CDNA), Britain’s specialist community nursing union today launch a stinging attack on the Health Service and Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt for failing to reduce the petrol burden faced by community nursing practitioners.

CDNA statement critical of Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt for not offering help to Community Nurses over increasing fuel prices, putting patient visits at risk.

The Community and District Nursing Association (CDNA), Britain’s specialist community nursing union today launch a stinging attack on the Health Service and Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt for failing to reduce the petrol burden faced by community nursing practitioners.

In a statement released today, the CDNA warns that, in the light of recent fuel price rises, if the NHS mileage allowance isn’t reviewed and increased immediately, many community nurses will find it impossible to use their cars to fulfil crucial appointments within the community.

The average Community nurse, working in a rural setting, is estimated to travel approximately 120 miles per week, visiting patients and clinics. With the mileage allowance currently set at a minimum of 10p per mile for lease car holders and a maximum of 40p per mile for those using their own cars, and fuel prices averaging around £1 per litre, many Community nurses are subsidising their journeys to visit patients from their own pockets, a situation which is not sustainable, and could ultimately lead to a decline in patient services.

Anne Duffy, Director of the Community and District Nursing Association said:

“The continual rise in the price of petrol and the consistent failure of the Health Secretary to review the mileage allowance for NHS means that many of our members are facing a real financial struggle in running their cars for work purposes, especially visiting patients in their homes.

“Rising petrol prices hit community health practitioners disproportionately harder than many other groups of workers but we are often ignored or forgotten about in favour of hauliers or farmers, but no longer. By refusing to review the allowance in the last five years community staff have been subsidising the Health Service for long enough. If something isn’t done soon, it is inevitable that patient services will start to suffer.”

The CDNA has started an online petition, and is calling on all those who value the services of Community and District Nurses to sign up now, to put pressure on Patricia Hewitt to address this important and urgent issue. To sign the petition and have your say please visit www.cdna.tvu.ac.uk/

ENDS

For further information and for interviews with Anne Duffy, please contact Nik Clifton at The Campaign Company on 07834 153 856 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Notes for Editors

The Community and District Nursing Association (CDNA) is a specialist trade union (affiliated to the TUC and STUC) representing nurses who work in the community, making highly skilled decisions on a daily basis in primary care. Founded in 1972, members are experienced clinicians from various senior nursing backgrounds. CDNA is involved in various campaigns for community nurses, recently leading the way on nurse safety in the workplace, 24 hour Community Team Care, 'bullying and harassment', 'postcode prescribing' and one of the most talked about campaigns of recent years on elder abuse.