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| Volunteer health drivers 'strike' | Volunteer health drivers 'strike' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| More than 60 volunteer ambulance car drivers in mid and west Wales are starting a two-day "strike" in a dispute over mileage payments. | More than 60 volunteer ambulance car drivers in mid and west Wales are starting a two-day "strike" in a dispute over mileage payments. |
| Drivers who use their own cars to transport patients to clinics and hospitals said 34p per mile was not enough to cover rising fuel costs. | |
| It is thought hundreds of patients could be affected by the action. | It is thought hundreds of patients could be affected by the action. |
| The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust said contingency plans were in place for as many patients as possible. | The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust said contingency plans were in place for as many patients as possible. |
| St. John Ambulance, the Community Transport Association and Medical Services will be drafted in to help patients as much as possible, while drivers from other parts of Wales may help. | |
| They should stop wasting money on things that are not worth it and pay the people who deserve it Ieuan Evans, dialysis patient | They should stop wasting money on things that are not worth it and pay the people who deserve it Ieuan Evans, dialysis patient |
| The drivers, who cover Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Swansea, claimed the decision to withdraw their services on Thursday and Friday was the last resort in a four-year battle. | The drivers, who cover Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Swansea, claimed the decision to withdraw their services on Thursday and Friday was the last resort in a four-year battle. |
| Teifion Morris, from Cardigan, said he had been driving patients around the UK for more than 20 years, and now spent £100 on petrol every week. | Teifion Morris, from Cardigan, said he had been driving patients around the UK for more than 20 years, and now spent £100 on petrol every week. |
| He said: "We only get mileage [money]. I don't make a penny profit out of it. | He said: "We only get mileage [money]. I don't make a penny profit out of it. |
| "But it's coming to a point where I will be out of pocket, what with petrol costs rising. | "But it's coming to a point where I will be out of pocket, what with petrol costs rising. |
| "I give my time as it is and I give the depreciation of my car. My Vauxhall Astra is four years old and it's done 147,000 miles. | "I give my time as it is and I give the depreciation of my car. My Vauxhall Astra is four years old and it's done 147,000 miles. |
| "Even if I wanted to change my car now I would get a pittance for it. | "Even if I wanted to change my car now I would get a pittance for it. |
| "They're treating us like monkeys and feeding us peanuts." | "They're treating us like monkeys and feeding us peanuts." |
| Mr Morris takes patients three times a week for dialysis in Aberystwyth, and he said they supported the action. | Mr Morris takes patients three times a week for dialysis in Aberystwyth, and he said they supported the action. |
| But some are worried how they will get their treatment. | But some are worried how they will get their treatment. |
| "It's my health" | "It's my health" |
| Ieuan Evans, who is retired, said: "We're behind it 100%. They should stop wasting money on things that are not worth it and pay the people who deserve it. | Ieuan Evans, who is retired, said: "We're behind it 100%. They should stop wasting money on things that are not worth it and pay the people who deserve it. |
| He said he had "no idea" how he would get to hospital on Friday for his next dialysis adding: "Of course I'm worried. If I don't go, that's it. It's my health." | He said he had "no idea" how he would get to hospital on Friday for his next dialysis adding: "Of course I'm worried. If I don't go, that's it. It's my health." |
| Another driver, Pauline Rhodes of Aberporth, said: "We managed to get an agreement that the rate would go up to 38p a mile from next April but I have asked for an interim solution because of the recent tremendous increase in fuel prices." | Another driver, Pauline Rhodes of Aberporth, said: "We managed to get an agreement that the rate would go up to 38p a mile from next April but I have asked for an interim solution because of the recent tremendous increase in fuel prices." |
| A spokeswoman for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust said it had established one of the highest mileage allowances rates in the UK, from April 2008. | A spokeswoman for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust said it had established one of the highest mileage allowances rates in the UK, from April 2008. |
| She added: "There are a number of contingency plans being put in place to make sure as many patients reach their treatment as possible on Thursday and Friday. | She added: "There are a number of contingency plans being put in place to make sure as many patients reach their treatment as possible on Thursday and Friday. |
| "These include the possible use of St. John's Ambulance, the Community Transport Association and Medical Services, all have of whom have been contacted." | "These include the possible use of St. John's Ambulance, the Community Transport Association and Medical Services, all have of whom have been contacted." |