NHS staff in Reading are being offered 50 per cent off their taxi fares to help lessen the pressure during unprecedented times.

Reading taxi drivers have teamed up with the black cab app FREE NOW to launch an “NHS Heroes” booking option.

This will give NHS workers in Reading 50 per cent off taxis as the keyworkers continue to tackle coronavirus on the frontline.

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The initiative aims to allow anyone working for the NHS in Reading to get to and from hospitals safely and quickly.

App creators said it has developed tech to specifically enable reduced prices for NHS workers with its new booking option.

Vandana Prashar, head of operations at FREE NOW said: “It is times like these that really highlight how crucial cabbies are to Reading’s infrastructure.

“As public transport options are reduced to align with social distancing measures, our doctors, nurses and all NHS front line staff are reliant on alternative options to help those in need.

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“The divider screens between driver and passenger in black cabs help to limit human contact, they are also easy to clean, and all black cab drivers have unrivalled knowledge of the city helping to get NHS workers to and from work in as little time as possible.

“It is a testament to drivers that they are willing to step up yet again, even when their earnings are taking a hit in these uncertain times to help NHS staff.”

The initiative follows the success of the app in London, and as a result is rolling it out to Reading.

FREE NOW said it does not make any profit from these jobs and the company is also speaking to the Government to explore what more can be done to support NHS staff.

The NHS heroes booking option is available for all NHS workers and will run in the app for the foreseeable future.