CARE WORKERS will have to rely on petrol stations only open to key workers as fuel shortages could stop them from reaching the vulnerable.

Care companies in Hereford are concerned for their vulnerable patients as petrol stations continue to run low on fuel.

Domiciliary care is defined as the range of services put in place to support an individual in their own home.

Staff at Katherine Harriet Bespoke Home care travel hundreds of miles across Herefordshire each week to care for people in their own homes.

They are using their WhatsApp group chat to let each other know where they can get fuel.

“We have been proactive from the start,” she said.

The company have two spare cars filled with fuel ready for their staff in case they are unable to fill up their own cars.

“We have to make sure we get there,” said Ms Tilby.

The company’s staff have used Texaco in Commercial Road, who have stayed open for blue light services and key workers only.

The staff show their carer cards and are given permission to fill up.

If there continues to be a shortage of fuel at petrol stations, key workers will rely on the garages enforcing this, said Ms Tilby.

Altogether Katherine Harriet has 53 members of staff working all over Herefordshire.

Due to Covid staff are not allowed to share cars, which means more cars are being used, therefore more fuel is needed.

The care company have received emails from Healthcare Training Academy, who have let them know currently there is no cause for concern.

But Ms Tilby issued a plea to people to think about key workers when filling up their cars.

“Leave us some petrol,” she said.