Measures set out by the chancellor in his spring statement today to help people with soaring fuel prices have been criticised as not going far enough to support community nurses. Rishi Sunak

announced a reduction in fuel duty on petrol and diesel of 5p per litre from 6pm tonight for the next 12 months. A supporting government document, published after his speech to the Commons,

said the cut would result in savings of £100 for the average car driver during 2022-23. > “Today’s fuel measures are not enough to stop nursing staff > subsidising the NHS when they 

fill up their car” >  > Pat Cullen In the lead up to the spring statement, concerns had been raised by nursing organisations that community nurses were being left out of pocket due to

Responding to the chancellor’s spring statement, RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said these steps were still needed, on top of the fuel duty changes. She said: “Today’s

fuel measures are not enough to stop nursing staff subsidising the NHS when they fill up their car. “When community nursing staff drive great distances to see their patients, giving vital

care, this is not enough action – they need immediate additional payments and an urgent review of the rates.” Mileage rates are set by the Treasury and the NHS Staff Council and are reviewed

twice a year, with the next review due in April. As it stands, community nurses can claim 56p per mile up to 3,500 miles per year and 20p for any miles driven over that, a rate that has

remained static since 2014. Ahead of the statement, groups representing NHS organisations and leaders raised concern that community staff could end up quitting over the issue. Saffron

Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, warned: “We already face high vacancy rates in key community roles including health visiting and district nursing – these services are

likely to be the most under pressure. “Community services have a vitally important role in delivering high quality care at or close to home in the future. They deserve better, and we must do

all we can to ensure they feel valued and supported.” > “A government that truly valued the nation’s health would have > gone further today” >  > Jo Bibby Siobhan Melia, chief

executive of Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and chair of the national NHS Community Network, said community-based staff were experiencing “stress and anxiety” as a result of rising

fuel costs, while some were changing their daily work patterns to save money. During his statement today, Mr Sunak confirmed that inflation had hit 6.2% in February and was likely to average

7.4% this year. In light of the rising cost of living, the chancellor announced that the income threshold at which people started paying National Insurance (NI) would increase to £12,570

from July. It comes as NI contributions are set to rise by 1.25 percentage points in 2022-23 to increase funding for health and social care. RELATED ARTICLES  From April 2023 onwards, the NI

contributions rates will decrease back to 2021-22 tax year levels and will be replaced by a new 1.25% Health and Social Care Levy. The government claimed that the change in threshold for NI

would mean that, from July, 70% of workers who pay NI will pay less of it, even after accounting for the Health and Social Care Levy. Mr Sunak also announced plans to cut the basic rate of

income tax from 20p to 19p from 2024. He said: “This statement puts billions back into the pockets of people across the UK and delivers the biggest net cut to personal taxes in over a

quarter of a century.” However, Jo Bibby, director of health at the Health Foundation think tank, said household incomes were still set to fall by 2.2% in real terms in the coming year after

factoring in the chancellor’s measures. “A government that truly valued the nation’s health would have gone further today to protect the most vulnerable families from this latest economic

shock,” she said.