The rates are so out of touch with the true cost of running a car that staff are struggling to afford to deliver patient care. Earlier this year, 229 staff sent the trust a message saying that their mileage reimbursement payments were not covering the cost of fuel and upkeep of the cars they outlaid money on to drive to treat patients. They are paid 24 pence a mile less than the national average. The RCN is campaigning to have that national figure renegotiated. It was set nearly two decades ago in 2004, when petrol cost 78p and the ‘Agenda for Change’ scheme was introduced to standardise what NHS employees doing the same job should be paid up and down the country.
Trusts around the country mostly pay Agenda for Change mileage rates, and several - including neighbouring trusts - have increased their rates in recognition of the rising pressure on staff who drive. As one staff member put it, “Why are we worth less than other trusts?”
Trust chief executive officer Sir Jim Mackey said he was unable to attend the meeting, but undeterred, disappointed staff met in a room with an empty chair displaying his name on it to highlight his absence. They left poignant messages for their absent boss pinned up in the shape of a car (pictured), saying what they would have said to him had he been there to hear their concerns.
Sarah Dodsworth, Regional Director of the RCN Northern Region, said: “It is disappointing that Sir Jim Mackey did not make the time to meet with his staff and listen to their concerns about their inability to afford to provide services to NHS patients. These woefully inadequate mileage rates continue to take money from staff pockets. Staff are subsidising the NHS in order to provide essential nursing care.”
"We had hoped that he would be prepared to face his staff and hear them out. The trust needs to take action to alleviate the financial pressure on staff who drive to see patients or they will continue to see resignations. Staff will have feel they have no choice but to defect to neighbouring trusts whose mileage rates demonstrate more respect for their community staff and the financial pressures they face.”
The trust has made some small gestures since the campaign started, including putting up mileage rates by 4p a mile, but the changes it has made don’t go nearly far enough. Its recent argument that its offer to staff is a good one because, for example, it has a subsidised canteen, simply doesn’t apply to busy community staff, out in their cars seeing patients all day, miles from the canteen.
As one staff member put it: “Reduced prices in hospital canteens do not subsidise our mileage payments.” Another said: “I don't want gimmicks, I just want fair mileage rates and fair pay.” The messages left for Sir Jim included: “I use a credit card to fund my mileage often”; “It should not cost me to care for my patients when travelling on trust business.”; “Do you know how much we pay for fuel in rural locations? It's not average.”; “We are more than a statistic on a spreadsheet. Fill our cars fairly and we will continue to 'Excel'”. The messages concluded: “Community staff are running on empty... and not just their fuel tanks.”
RCN Organiser Lily Coombs-Berry, who has been supporting the unhappy members, said: “RCN members and their colleagues have been campaigning tirelessly for fair rates for fuel. They aren't asking for gold - they're simply asking to be paid fairly for the miles they do so they're not paying to carry out their work. They'll keep fighting with their union until they achieve the changes they need and their Chief Executive, Sir Jim Mackey, does right by his staff.”
The RCN Northern region will be releasing a tweet a day for a month, depicting the messages that the staff left for the trust, so the trust has an opportunity to see their arguments.
Follow @RCNNorthern to keep up with the campaign.
Messages for Sir Jim Mackey from staff who use their cars to see patients:
- Please do not insult us by ignoring this important issue. Pay us Agenda for Change rates now
- Why do we even need to campaign for Agenda for Change rates?
- We get paid Agenda for Change - so why don't they pay us Agenda for Change mileage rates?
- Respect Every Single Person Especially Community Teams
- I use a credit card to fund my mileage often
- It should not cost me to care for my patients when travelling on trust business
- Fleet cars ... encouraged but discriminated against
- Don't embarrass us - empower us
- Pay us to retain us
- Can I have a fair mileage payment rather than an ice cream and why are the trust so unwilling to listen to our concerns re mileage
- I can't afford to fill my car to attend that visit. What would you say?
- Recruitment is difficult. Make it more appealing to come to our wonderful trust!
- Why are we worth less than our neighbour?
- We are more than a statistic on a spreadsheet. Fill our cars fairly and we will continue to 'Excel'
- Staff will end up going off sick as they cannot afford the petrol to work in the community
- I don't want gimmicks, I just want fair mileage rates and fair pay
- Why such a different rate between lease car rate and personal car rate
- Every other trust pays it - why don't we?
- We already pay ourselves to come to work - the cost of our job should NOT be our mental health
- RESPECT - this includes your staff
- Community staff are running on empty... and not just their fuel tanks
- We are not asking for gold. Please pay Agenda for Change mileage
- Reduced prices in hospital canteens do not subsidise our mileage payments
- Why are we worth less than other trusts?
- Do you know how much we pay for fuel in rural locations? It's not average.
