From Mr B. Patel, MRPharmS
SIR,-Having read Mr Hulme's reply to Mr Blake's letter (PJ, August 19, p264), let us be clear about one thing. Whatever Moss's reason, or for that matter, the other employers that Mr Hulme was referring to, for witholding payment for the first 10 miles, it certainly has nothing to do with a belief that "in most industries an employee expects to pay some, if not all, of their travel costs". I assume Mr Blake commutes by car. If, however, he took the train, he would be reimbursed in full! He would not be asked to quote a return fare 10 miles from his home on the claim form.
Locums who commute long distances should ask themselves how much the car actually costs them - not just the fuel, the cost of the car itself, lost or paid interest, repair bills, tax, MOT, etc. When the actual cost is expressed per mile, invariably all locums will find that 25p per mile is derisory and they will also realise to what extent they are digging into their own pockets at the convenience of Moss and others.
Mr Hulme states that this is the norm in other industries. Is it the norm in other industries that they are totally reliant on the day tripper from the back of beyond? Most people would be amazed to hear that some locums will add four to five hours to their working day in commuting. Whatever fuel allowance they get would be eaten up in the maintenance of their vehicle. Surely this is patently unfair as most people would only commute for less than half that time. Why not levy a charge for travelling time; it seems only fair. Mr Blake should inform the agency that, in future, his working day starts the minute he leaves home.
If Mr Hulme and others can presume to champion the cause of "fairness", I can see no reason why this should be an exclusive club. If any locum feels hard done by, in the way that Mr Blake does, the answer is simple. They should tell the agency that they refuse to commute unless full travel is paid at an acceptable rate.
Bakul Patel
Purley, Surrey