The war in the Ukraine has led to fuel prices reaching all time record highs. Hard working, underpaid, community NHS nurses who struggled prior to this increase are now at breaking point. Increasing the 45p tax-free approved mileage allowance* is a simple way of helping community nurses at this time. I have several friends working as community nurses and seeing how hard they work, this clearly isn’t fair.

*The 45p rate is clearly not appropriate with fuel costs now exceeding £1.50 a litre. HMRC rules currently permit 10,000 miles per year at a maximum rate of 45p per mile and thereafter 25p per mile. Whilst some Trust mileage rates exceed this, any payment exceeding 45p is deemed taxable and subject to NI. This means that community nurses are taxed on their wages and then again on their fuel/car expenditure. This whole system needs looking at - community nurses should not have to pay to work!