Royal Mail delays spark concerns over jab letters
CONCERNS have been raised that delays in postal deliveries during the coronavirus pandemic could mean some Staffordshire residents will not receive their vaccination letter.
There are also concerns that patients are not keeping their contact details, including, phone numbers up to date with their local surgeries, which could delay their vaccinations.
Postal deliveries issues are being experienced in some parts of the West Midlands due to staffing issues caused by the pandemic, the Royal Mail has said, but it had said vaccination letters are being “prioritised”.
Lichfield and Barton under Needwood MP Michael Fabricant has contacted the Royal Mail headquarters in London after constituents had raised concerns with him. His constituency also includes Abbots Bromley and Kings Bromley.
He said: “I know that some of my constituents have concerns that they will miss out on their Covid vaccinations though I want to reassure them that this is not the case.”
David Gold, director of public policy at the Royal Mail Group, told the MP that Covid was having a big impact on services in Lichfield and elsewhere, less because of infection, but more due to the need for people to isolate on advice from Track and Trace.
Mr Gold said: “We are working closely with public health authorities and other letter carriers to play our part in the delivery of vaccination letters. We recognise the vital importance of delivering vaccination letters as quickly as possible.
“We would like to reassure you that these vaccination letters are being prioritised. Our people have been instructed to look out for the vaccination letters which are identified by an NHS logo so that they can be prioritised during the sorting process.
“In addition, the mail producer is providing data daily on the number of vaccination letters coming into the network. We meet daily with the public health authorities, the mail producer and access carrier to jointly plan for the delivery of vaccination letters. “This ensures we can focus our resources to deliver these letters as quickly as possible.
“In areas where Royal Mail offices are experiencing particularly high levels of Covid-related absences, we will draft in extra resource to help prioritise vaccination letters still further.”
Mr Fabricant added: “I have pointed out to David Gold that in some areas, deliveries have stopped altogether.
“However, Staffordshire is blessed with particularly good Primary Care networks. If people eligible to receive the Covid vaccine do not respond to the NHS letter for any reason, they will be contacted electronically – by text, email, or a phone call – from their GP practice inviting them for a vaccination when the time is right.
“People should not worry about losing out. In the meantime, I wish all local postal workers well who I know are working hard to get our mail delivered and I hope that they can keep safe.”
Mr Fabricant is also urging patients to keep their phone records up to date with their doctors.
The MP said: “MPS cannot intervene with individual GP practices as to when they should call patients on their list to be vaccinated against Covid. This is a clinical decision that will be made by each GP practice.
“But the first step is to ensure that your GP does have your correct and up to date mobile number and email address and that you have authorised them to use it.
“And if you have neither, you need to ensure they have your landline phone number. You will then be called for the vaccine when the time is right.”