The RCN wants chancellor Alistair Darling to raise the Annual Mileage Allowance Payments threshold in tomorrow's budget, amid fears that it could be cut to deter public sector staff from driving. A recent poll by the Community and District Nursing Association found that 96 per cent of nurses say there is a shortfall between their travel expenses and the reimbursement they receive (http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/GP/785829/Nurses-subsidising-NHS/). The RCN is also calling for tax allowances on clothing, footwear and laundry to help cut nurses' expenses.

Do you support these measures? What would you like to see in the budget?

I'm surprisd that nobody has added their comments to this blog.

This is a major issue for those nurses that have to pay for their own cars yet get a very small contribution, taxed as all income, towards the running costs. Diesels are not any cheaper when used for short runs, such as in cities and buikt up areas, as the initial cost to buy is higher and fuel is also considerably more expensive per litre.

I don't recall this topic being raised at all in the budget; probably as central government devolve this responsibility to the different NHS Trusts. So much easier for Ministers to close their eyes and ears to the plight of others in public service.  Perhasp if they forgwent their expenditure allowances on rented properties and the like there would be more than sufficient funds available to make up for this blatant shortfall.