Care workers in Tyrone hit hard by spiralling fuel costs

RISING fuel costs are threatening the sustainability of carers to continue their work locally, UNISON in Omagh and Fermanagh has warned this week.

The union’s chairperson locally, Andy McKane, says some workers are paying £50 a day to fill their cars, and that the current expense allowance of 56p per mile for the first 3,500 miles and then 20p of each additional mile simply isn’t enough.

The costs of petrol and diesel have risen sharply during recent weeks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking to the Tyrone Herald, Mr McKane said the situation affecting care workers had the potential to lead to a staffing crisis because it may become unsustainable for some to keep working due to the fuel costs.

“In recent days we have had district nurses and care workers getting in contact about how bad the situation has become for them,” he said.

“Once workers hit 3,500 miles in the course of a financial year from April to April, then the mileage allowance is reduced from 56p to 20p. Many workers will reach that threshold within the first month,” he said.

“This has to cover the fuel, and the wear and tear on their vehicles. I have had people telling me that they are putting £50 per day into their vehicles and it’s unsustainable and something needs to be done.”

Mr McKane says he has been in contact with assembly members in West Tyrone over the issue calling for action.

But he warns that it is nearly costing people money to work.

“We are once again seeing a situation where the low-paid workers are being hit worst again. This fuel crisis is especially bad in rural areas like West Tyrone where the distances being travelled by care workers are so much greater than in towns and cities,” he added.

“Our care workers and district nurses have no choice but to go and see people. Their essential care work cannot be done over zoom and online.

“Hundreds of people are affected by this in the Western Trust area, and some private care firms don’t even pay mileage. Something needs to be done urgently.”

On Friday, Stormont party leaders failed to agree on how to allocate £300m to families struggling with energy bills after they were briefed on the legal authority of the parties to allocate the money without a functioning Executive. Earlier in the week, Finance Minister Conor Murphy said he was advised the money could not be released without executive approval, which was rejected by DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson who said other options could be used to get help to those families who need it.