These are the companies with new key worker offers, including free breakdown cover and priority servicing

Vauxhall and Ford and other companies have announced new measures to help keep NHS staff and other key workers mobile during the current national lockdown.

Vauxhall is making its roadside assistance breakdown service free  to all Vauxhall-driving NHS staff while Ford is offering them priority access to its mobile service operation.

Vauxhall’s Roadside Assistance is usually only available to buyers of new Vauxhalls but will be offered to all NHS staff who own a Vauxhall, no matter its age, mileage or where it has been serviced/maintained.

“Vauxhall is committed to providing continued support to essential services and key workers, many of whom drive Vauxhalls, during this time,” said Stephen Norman, Vauxhall’s managing director. “Keeping our NHS colleagues mobile is vital, and will hopefully offer some reassurance to them while they go about their business.”

The service applies to drivers at home and at the roadside. In the first instance, technicians will attempt to repair the car but if that is not possible, the vehicle will be recovered to a Vauxhall authorised repairer or independent trader within a 10-mile radius, and a taxi provided for its driver and passenger(s) to a single destination within a 20-mile radius.

The free access applies to roadside assistance and recovery but the cost of any parts or specialist services required to complete a vehicle repair remain the customer’s responsibility.

To make use of the service, all NHS staff need do is call 0800 197 2049 and quote "NHS key worker". They will then be asked for the model of Vauxhall, its registration, exact location and the cause of the breakdown (if known).

At the same time, TrustFord, the Ford-owned dealer and servicing network is offering priority service to NHS staff and other essential workers from its mobile servicing operation.

The company’s mobile servicing vehicles, normally used to support large fleet needs, have been switched to supporting NHS, frontline and essential workers struggling to reach their local Ford site.

After starting at selected sites in in England and Northern Ireland, the company’s fleet of mobile vans can now reach essential frontline and individual needs from hubs in Kent, Dagenham, Heathrow, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Yorkshire and Northern Ireland.

The company is also using selected Parts Plus hubs to offer free disposable seat covers to NHS community nursing units to help keep their staff safe.

TrustFord’s chairman and CEO, Stuart Foulds, said: "Our fleet team is fast-tracking essential vehicle orders and aftersales colleagues have been actively supporting customers on site to keep key workers on the road since the crisis started. It seemed logical to also mobilise our servicing units to reach those who cannot easily visit a site.

"The idea to give away free disposable seat covers came through an appeal my wife spotted and I was delighted that our Parts Plus team was able to source some to give away. We will continue to support and look for ways to support those in essential roles at this critical time.”

NHS staff and those listed by the Government as essential workers who would like to know more about the mobile servicing units can contact the booking team on 0330 159 7862 or visit www.trustford.co.uk/mobile-servicing

Anyone connected to NHS community nursing interested in the free disposable seat covers should contact one of the participating Parts Plus sites in Belfast, Bristol, Glasgow, Normanton, Tamworth, Thurrock or Warrington for advice on how to collect directly or through TrustFord’s Parts Plus wider network. Contact details for participating sites can be found on