Nicholas Soames MP has been approached by community nurses and volunteer drivers for the ambulance service over the impact of spiralling fuel costs.

Mr Soames said; “This is of course a problem affecting ever sector but it is particularly galling for volunteers and community nurses. We all owe a huge debt to the really wonderful and irreplaceable work that drivers and community nurses do in serving the community. Drivers travel some 600 miles a month and with a growing emphasis on care in the community they are effectively subsidising the National Health Service.

“I have made a strong case to the Chief Executive of the Sussex Ambulance Service to see what steps can be taken to increase the mileage allowance but in view of the crisis in the local healthcare economy I have called upon the Secretary of State for Health to investigate this herself as a matter of urgency.”

Nicholas Soames said; “My colleagues and I have been calling on the Government to cut fuel duty. Fuel taxes in Britain are significantly higher than many parts of continental Europe”.

-ENDS-

Notes

Nicholas Soames has been approached by a driver on behalf of the ambulance service volunteers and by a number of community nurses.