Royal Mail considers delaying vital hospital letters

ROYAL Mail is in talks with the Government and the NHS about slowing down the delivery of hospital letters and fines to save money.

The NHS and the Ministry of Justice are among bodies asked by Royal Mail whether their letters could be delivered in three days instead of two. Slowing down postal deliveries could save up to £650 million a year, according to a January report from Ofcom. The move could see medical appointment letters, court summonses and other vital documents arriving more slowly.

Royal Mail sources confirmed the business is talking to its bulk mail customers about slowing down their post as part of a cost-saving drive, but said no decision had been made yet.

A spokesman said “reform is urgently needed”, adding: “We are doing everything in our power to transform, but it is not sustainable to maintain a network built for 20 billion letters when we only deliver seven billion.”

Customers in discussion with Royal Mail about slower deliveries include the NHS and the Ministry of Justice, The Sunday Times reported.

Ofcom’s report said: “If the large majority of letters were delivered within three days, it could achieve net cost savings of £150m-£650m”.

News of the discussions between Royal Mail and its corporate customers comes amid a simmering political row over its legal obligation to deliver mail six days a week, known as its universal service obligation (USO).

Tension is brewing between the Government, Royal Mail and Ofcom after the watchdog warned that maintaining postal deliveries for six days a week, as the law currently requires, could become “financially and operationally unsustainable”.

A government source said yesterday there would be “no changes” to Royal Mail’s service obligations.

The Ministry of Justice, the Department for Business and Trade and the Department of Health and Social Care were contacted for comment.