HOSPITAL bosses are using texts to contact patients and some residents are increasingly using the NHS app because of complaints over a poor postal service in Worcester.
Cllr Sarah Murray is among those who have been pushing for improvements to the postal service, particularly in Warndon Villages in Worcester, but there continue to be complaints.
Worcester MP Tom Collins says the service provided by Royal Mail is not good enough and is consistently failing people in Worcester.
However, a spokesperson for Royal Mail said 92 per cent of their letters arrive on time and they are investing £500 million nationally over the next five years to make deliveries more reliable.
Royal Mail says 92 per cent of letters arrive on time
RESPONSE: Derek Barnard, with a late condolence card for his dog Barney, increasingly uses the NHS app, partly because of the unreliable postal service provided by Royal Mail (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
Derek Barnard, 66, of Crowcroft Drive at Regency Gate, off Bromyard Road in St John’s, Worcester has previously raised concerns about the post and said his own experience did not reflect the 92 per cent figure shared by Royal Mail.
A condolence card from his vet arrived five weeks after the death of his beloved dog Barney. He says he increasingly relies on the NHS app, partly because it is more convenient and partly because his post is so unreliable.
“We use the NHS app now. I just find it easier. It follows me and I can open it anywhere I have a signal and most places have free Wi-Fi anyway. Last year I was waiting for a specialist hospital follow-up and I was afraid it hadn’t been posted and I resorted to email to resolve it,” he said.
READ MORE: Royal Mail anger over post delays at new Worcester estate
Meanwhile, bosses at Worcestershire Royal Hospital say they are using texts and other forms of communication to get in touch with patients about appointments.
A spokesperson for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said, “We are aware of concerns around the reliability of the postal service, and we are expanding the range of options we have for communicating with our patients including text messaging and digital communications.”
Reports about late post in Warndon Villages
Cllr Sarah Murray, the Liberal Democrat councillor for St Nicholas, has been among those meeting with residents about their concerns with the service and pushing for improvements.
READ MORE: Anger over more Royal Mail post delays in Warndon Villages
She said: “Despite assurances things would improve, I’m still receiving complaints about sporadic letter deliveries and post arriving in batches after gaps.
“For context, I have a dated February/March snapshot of 35 resident reports. Hotspots then were WR4 0 / WR4 9 / WR5 1 and 91 per cent reported two delivery days a week or less. I’m still hearing similar patterns now.”
One resident told Cllr Murray: “I receive RNIB talking-book discs every couple of days, but some weeks none arrive — then two turn up in the same delivery. When the post does come, it’s an armful.”
CONCERN: Worcester MP Tom Collins says the people of Worcester are being failed by Royal Mail (Image: Submitted)
Worcester MP, Tom Collins, said: “Royal Mail are consistently failing people in Worcester and, it seems, across the country. I have raised this with the Minister multiple times and I’m afraid all MPs seem to be finding a similar response – a general refusal to recognise the scale of the failures, and then, once presented with the evidence, no clear plan to urgently address them.
“It’s not good enough. I continue to pursue meetings with Royal Mail management, and I’d like to thank local residents who continue to report the problems to me – it’s really helpful in challenging Royal Mail. I’d just like to add that I know that our postal workers are as frustrated by the Royal Mail’s mismanagement as the rest of us, I’d like to thank them on behalf of all of us for their continuing hard work.
ACTION: Cllr Sarah Murray has been calling for urgent improvements to the Royal Mail postal service after ongoing complaints (Image: Submitted)
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We know how important it is that people receive letters on time, particularly medical letters, and we take any concerns about delayed mail seriously.
“Our posties are out delivering across Worcester every day. However, we only deliver to addresses where there is mail to deliver and, with fewer letters now being sent, not every household will receive post every day. Some people may only receive something a few times a week.
“While 92 per cent of all letters arrive on time, we know our service is not yet where it needs to be. That is why we are investing £500 million over five years to make deliveries more reliable.”