Health Unions Win 10 Per Cent Increase On Mileage Allowances For UK Nurses

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 04 Jul 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has led negotiations with NHS employers over the past year and has won a 10 per cent increase in all Agenda for Change Standard and Regular Mileage Allowances for nurses across the United Kingdom.

Nurses have been feeling the pinch with rising fuel costs and many are struggling financially to travel to and from work.

Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today said:

"The RCN successfully negotiated an agreement which will now allow nurses to be reimbursed for their travel costs. This means that the top Regular User rate will now be 44p, a 4p increase, and the top Standard User rate will be 58.3p, an increase of 5.3p.

"The passenger allowance will also increase from 2p to 5p, the Cycle Rate from 6.5p to 10p, and Public Transport rates from 23p to 24p.

"This agreement is a step in the right direction and forms part of a bigger picture in delivering a better deal for nurses.

"The RCN is still calling on the Government to abandon plans to increase fuel costs by 2p a litre in October and ease the financial burden on dedicated health care workers."
The RCN is also asking that the Annual Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) threshold be increased by the HRMC.

Note

Negotiations for the Agenda for Change Standard and Regular Mileage Allowance was chaired by Gerry O'Dwyer on behalf of the NHS unions.

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.

Royal College of Nursing