FRAIL patients at a Worcestershire home will suffer if care staff cannot buy fuel from the emergency services quota it was claimed today.

David Attwood said he fears for the safety of 28 mentally-infirm patients as staff run out of petrol, leaving the home hopelessly short-staffed.

He said members of staff have no more than two days' fuel and have no way of getting more to ensure they can look after the sick patients.

"Doctors and medical staff are allowed to buy fuel from the emergency quota but carers can't," said Mr Attwood, general manager of The Moat House Nursing Home in Leigh Sinton.

"Carers are just seen as motorists so cannot buy fuel. But the carers are vital to the residents who are completely reliant on them and cannot do anything for themselves.

"Some are in their 90s and need us to be there for them. We nurse our patients and need to be able to get to work just like doctors and nurses.

"All carers should be included in the emergency quota."

But he added the fuel crisis was having another effect on the home other than staff.

The 59-year-old was today meeting supermarkets in the area to ensure the home could obtain bread and milk for the patients, as well as petrol for staff.

"Some of our residents can only eat sandwiches and we are very short on bread," he added.

"After this weekend we will not have fresh bread as we will have used the bread stock from the freezer"

"Obviously this is a very serious situation and I have started meeting with supermarkets to see if we can ensure we can maintain a supply of fresh bread, milk and other foods."