Fuel Crisis Pushes Home Care Workers to the Brink of Quitting

## TL;DR Rising fuel costs are creating significant financial pressure for home care workers in Northern Ireland. This situation threatens the stability of essential community care services, potentially impacting thousands of vulnerable individuals.

### Context Home care workers in Northern Ireland are reporting increasing difficulty in affording the fuel necessary for their jobs. This financial strain directly impacts their ability to provide critical support to vulnerable individuals across the region, raising concerns about the sector's sustainability.

### Key Facts One home care worker, Kevin Brewer, reports he can no longer afford the fuel required to travel to his various client appointments. This individual struggle highlights a broader issue fueled by sharp increases in petrol and diesel prices. In Northern Ireland, petrol costs rose from 124.8p to 154p per litre, marking a 23.4% increase. Diesel prices saw an even steeper climb, from 132.6p to 188.1p per litre, a 41.9% rise.

Reimbursement for mileage often fails to cover these escalated operational costs. Home care workers employed by Health and Social Care Trusts receive 58p per mile for the initial 4,500 miles traveled annually, with the rate decreasing to 30p per mile thereafter. In stark contrast, private sector employers frequently offer inconsistent and substantially lower mileage reimbursement rates. This disparity places a significant financial burden on many workers, especially those in the private sector who often undertake extensive daily travel to reach multiple clients.

### What It Means The combination of drastically increased fuel prices and inconsistent, often insufficient, mileage compensation places home care workers in a precarious financial position. Many face difficult choices between continuing their vital work and covering their personal living expenses. This situation directly correlates with a heightened risk of staff turnover within a sector crucial for maintaining public health and social care infrastructure. Home care enables timely hospital discharges, reduces inpatient bed days, and provides essential community contact for many vulnerable individuals. A decline in this workforce could severely strain the healthcare system, leading to longer waiting lists for care and potentially isolating those who depend on these services daily. The ongoing financial pressures on this workforce demand immediate attention from both public and private sector stakeholders.