Hastings Direct and Aviva give NHS staff free breakdown cover as a thank you during coronavirus crisis

INSURANCE firms are offering extra support to NHS staff and key workers to keep them on the road during the coronavirus crisis.

Hastings Direct has introduced free breakdown cover as well as a package of measures to help staff.

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The firm is giving a helping hand to NHS and key workers to keep them safe during the coronavirus crisis. Rival company Aviva has introduced a similar scheme.

It follows similar gestures from shops, supermarkets and delivery firms to give staff on the front-line extra perks during such a stressful time.

Hastings Direct has emailed 400,000 customers – including NHS workers, private healthcare staff, pharmacists, health authority workers, social services and ambulance crews – to inform them of the offer worth £9million.

It is automatically giving free RAC breakdown cover, a courtesy car if theirs involved in an accident, priority claims and phone line.

The CEO Toby van der Meer is also asking any customers who are NHS or key workers to contact him on his personal email if they need further assistance, as well as asking staff to "go the extra mile".

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He told The Sun: "We think it's the right thing to do and it's a small way of supporting the NHS and keeping people mobile during Covid-19."

"I'm checking my emails and I'm personally available to help anyone who needs it."

"On behalf of everyone at Hastings, I wanted to say a massive thank you to all our dedicated NHS and frontline healthcare workers, and volunteers, out there.”

The measures have been welcomed by customers on social media who have been tweeting their support for the insurer.

While Aviva is offering any NHS workers customers with a motor policy free breakdown cover and a free courtesy car if theirs breaks down.

Both are offering volunteers working in the community extra motor cover so they are insured while undertaking unpaid activities.

Breakdown cover usually costs between £65 to £90 a year, on average.

Elsewhere Just Eat and Deliveroo have announced discounts for NHS workers.

While B&M has extended its 10 per cent store discount to NHS workers.

Supermarkets have created dedicated shopping hours or provisions to help NHS workers get supplies.

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