Community nurses forced to take sick days or quit altogether over transport costs

Nurses are sleeping in their cars before shifts, taking days off sick and even resigning in some cases because of unaffordable travel costs, a national nursing conference has heard.

Community nurses have warned that the ‘financial burden’ of running a car has become ‘unsustainable’ for many across the profession, and could threaten the future ‘stability’ of the workforce.

The concerns were raised during a discussion at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Congress in Liverpool, where members explored what accessible and affordable travel means for the nursing workforce.

Member of the RCN District and Community Nursing Forum Gail Goddard said community nurses were asking for ‘one thing – the ability to reach their patients without going into personal debt’.

‘The financial burden has become unsustainable’

She explained that current travel conditions, including resident-only parking zones, ‘stagnant mileage reimbursement’, rising insurance premiums, car maintenance costs and new usage charges were adding ‘time and cost to every visit’.

‘The financial burden has become unsustainable,’ said Ms Goddard.

‘Many nurses are reporting that they cannot afford petrol at the end of the month, further threatening the stability of the community workforce as nurses are resigning due to the cost of running a car.’

She called for the implementation of ‘fair reimbursement rates, [the] creation of essential worker parking exemptions in all areas, and [to] ensure that local transport policies consider the needs of those delivering frontline care’.

A recent review of NHS mileage reimbursement rates saw rates per mile for journeys over 3,500 miles increase from 21p per mile to 36p per mile. The change will apply from June 2026, along with reimbursement rates per mile up to 3,500 returning from 56p back to 59p per mile, six months after rates decreased.

Another member of the RCN District and Community Nursing Forum Nicola Bell said she wanted to ‘reiterate the challenges that are being faced by our community teams across the board’.

In particular she raised concerns around nurses having to upfront mileage costs before being reimbursed and around some nurses not being appropriately reimbursed.

She said these costs, coupled with ‘wear and tear’ car costs, meant some nurses were ‘unable to keep their car on the road and being forced to borrow or simply taking sick leave because they haven’t been able to get their car on the road’.

‘Accessible and affordable travel is not just a convenience for nursing staff’

Jia Amada, a nurse from the RCN’s Eastern region, said she wanted to add the voice of those working at an outreach clinic in the community.

‘Accessible and affordable travel is not just a convenience for nursing staff, it directly impacts staff wellbeing, retention, and patient care,’ she said.

She explained that in her organisation, nurses were expected to travel from their home address or a hospital to community clinics on public transport that could take up to two hours each way.

Recognising the ‘impact this had on staff morale, fatigue, and finances’, she said her team introduced an interim solution whereby nurses received an additional 30 minutes at Band 5 bank rate pay – equivalent to around £8 – ‘to acknowledge the travel time, which is equivalent to the NHS mileage fee’.

‘This was a positive step, but it’s still unsustainable and not sustainable long term, and does not fully address the wider issue,’ she said.

‘If we truly value the nursing workforce, then accessible and affordable travel must become part of workforce planning to achieve sustainable services,’ added Ms Amada.

‘I can no longer afford to put fuel in my car, so I stay near work and sleep in my car’

Lyndsey Curtis-Dawson, secretary of the Northumberland Tyne and Wear branch, shared stories of nurses who had told her they had been sleeping in their cars because they were struggling to pay for their travel.

She shared the experience of one nurse who said: ‘I can no longer afford to put fuel in my car, so I stay near work and sleep in my car, as there are no public transport options for the timings of my shifts.

‘I’m not the only one doing this. There are lots of us at rock bottom trying to keep a roof over our family’s head, pay all of the bills, heating, and everything that goes with having kids on a measly nurse’s wage. I personally know of other nurses and paramedics doing the same as me, just to survive. It’s so wrong.’

Another nurse told her: ‘I too sleep in my car if I have two or three shifts together. I do go home as I have my parents’ house for a couple of nights, but I simply can’t afford to rent. I literally have nothing left. My only choice is to sleep in my car.’

The discussion at RCN Congress was sparked by a campaign led by nurse Alicia Arias around the need for urgent train ticket reform for healthcare workers.