25th May, 2001

 

Dear Sir/Madam

Deals on Wheels lobby of Northern Ireland Assembly, 18 June 2001

The Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association (CPHVA), and the Community Psychiatric Nurses Association (CPNA) have been campaigning to ensure that Health Visitors and Community Nurses receive a better deal when they use their cars on NHS business.

At present, we estimate that our members are each subsidising the NHS to the tune of £700-a-year.

The devolved Northern Assembly has a certain freedom of action on this issue and we are inviting all of the 108 MLAs to attend a meeting in Members Dining Room at Stormont at 1.00pm on 18 June to meet a delegation of Community Nurses and Health Visitors. Professor Monica McWilliams (MLA), Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition has kindly agreed to sponsor this lobby.

The three issues we would like to raise that are particularly pertinent to Northern Ireland are

  1. free parking for Community Nurses when on NHS business;
  2. an ending of the different mileage rates paid to Social Workers and Community Nurses by the same employer.
  3. pressure to be applied by the Northern Ireland Executive on the General Whitley Council for a substantial increase in mileage and travelling allowances.

We hope that you can attend this meeting. A campaign pack is enclosed which explains the issues in greater depth. Refreshments will be provided.

If you would like to talk about the issues beforehand, please contact the MSF Regional Officer (Belfast), Kevin McAdam on 02890 326688 (work) 07050 653353 (mobile)

Yours sincerely,


Briege Coyle, Professional Officer (Northern Ireland), CPHVA

Pat McGreevy, Deputy Chair (Northern Ireland), CPNA