Islanders are growing increasingly concerned that important letters inviting them for a COVID-19 vaccination are not being received as Royal Mail struggle with postal deliveries.
With the number of coronavirus cases on the rise, Royal Mail is struggling to keep up with the demand as swathes of staff members self-isolate.
Island Echo readers have been in touch this week to question the lack of post in recent days, with one resident in Lake saying their block of flats – mainly occupied by elderly residents – hasn’t received any post for over a week. Normally they would expect at least 1 piece of post a day. This is causing great concern for those expecting a COVID vaccination in the coming days and weeks with fears they simply won’t receive the invitation letter in time.
Today (Tuesday), the postal service has confirmed 28 areas in the UK are under a limited service due to resourcing issues. Although the Isle of Wight is not included on this list, it appears that things are not running as normal. Observations indicate that parcel deliveries – for items such as Amazon packages – are operating as near to normal as possible but that letters are not being delivered.
Law dictates that those with coronavirus, suspected of having coronavirus or those who have been in contact with a positive case must self-isolate for 10 days, which could mean a significant delay for Royal Mail deliveries with staff off work for around 2 weeks.
Royal Mail has been approached for a statement with regards to the specific impact on the Island and what is being done to resolve the situation, especially given the Island’s higher-than-average number of elderly residents.
UPDATE @ 12:00 – Royal Mail has issued a statement regarding the delays, but has not addressed Island Echo’s questions over how long the delay is and what is being done here on the Isle of Wight specifically.
A spokesperson has said:
“Across the UK, our people are working hard to deliver as comprehensive a service as possible to all our customers in challenging circumstances. Despite our best endeavours, it is possible that some areas of the country may experience a reduction in service levels due to higher volumes of mail during the lockdown, the ongoing impact of COVID-related staff absences and necessary social distancing measures at local mail centres and delivery offices.
“Right from the start of this crisis, we have played a key role keeping the country connected. Every single letter and parcel is important to us. Like most organisations, we have a number of employees who are self-isolating in line with government guidance. This has a direct impact on our staffing levels, especially in areas where there are higher levels of local outbreaks. We are working hard to deliver as normal a service as we can, drawing in extra resource and offering additional overtime where possible.
“We remain grateful to all our customers in these areas for their patience and understanding as our dedicated workforce work hard to deliver these exceptional volumes, whilst also adhering to necessary social distancing measures. We always endeavour to keep our customers updated on any changes to our services. We have a dedicated section on our website. Throughout the pandemic, every decision we make puts the health of our people and customers first.”
Are you receiving your post ok? When was the last time the postman visited your property? Comment below…
Postman delivered yesterday PO30, first time for a few days but have seen the posties van around most days
To help keep our postmen safe, please wash your knockers and letter boxes with antiviral cleaners daily, for others may have handled them earlier from rival delivery companies etc.
Open all mail carefully then dispose of outer wrap and bleach area. Some people still lick envelopes or shed virus if infected and the virus stays alive LONGER in cold weather.
Photograph on your phone the letters your receive as proof if needed and then bin it quickly.
Surely just washing our knockers with detergent would make them safe for the postie to handle?
Bleach is a little damaging to delicate materials. He always rings my bell anyway.
Delivery guys & posties don’t need to ring our bell, the dogs tell me someone’s coming to the door. Tbh they tell me if someone’s in the road!
As i have been waiting for a letter to arrive since 19th December from a family member, i sent an email to the customer services on the 29th December, after sending the email it said they would reply within 24 hours.
To this day they have not replied, but the letter did arrive on 31st.
I was told by one postman that they had had a lot of parcels, so were withholding all letters and concentrating on getting the parcels deliverd.
I sent a parcel on Thursday morning 09.55 first class signed for to Gosport and it still hasn’t arrived and the sorting office is in Portsmouth.
…and how do you know that ?
With the current circumstances with being in a national lockdown not being funny we’re lucky to still receive post or any post for that matter while a lot of places have shut and people being furloughed to stay at home and remain postmen and women are still out their deliverying and risking their health and they can only deliver with what comes in. I work in the public sector myself and still have to go and work and risk my my health. Think some people should
Be more grateful.
Ref Vaccination letters, the very limited number of people that I know who have had or have appointments for vaccination have had phone calls not letters.
If staff are sick or having to isolate, then unfortunately there is not much that can be done.
oh, wait a minute, perhaps if Royal Mail had not done away with the ‘second’ delivery, cut numbers of staff and greatly increased the size of individual rounds…?
We’ve had no problems with our post around the hideaway in shanklin
Our postal deliveries are very sporadic in South Wight.
My neighbours received their vaccination letters too late to keep the appointments in Shanklin. They were given another appointment for 3 weeks later. 3 weeks is a very long time in the life of this virus.
A friend in Niton received her vaccination letter on the day of the appointment in Shanklin but too late in the day.
We all need to be emailed or phoned with our vaccination appointments. The postal system cannot be relied on to deliver the letters in time to keep the appointments, as I have just told Bob Seely’s office, Countypress and IOW Radio. Well done Island Echo for airing this concern. Are these precious vaccines being wasted? I so hope that is not the case.
Bojo’s Dad must have got his letter ok
🙂
The postmen and women are doing their best in these difficult times lets not slag them off . It could be worse at least there not going on strike like wightlink. Three cheers for the posty
just be glad you’re getting any letters or parcels from any courier service, its rife amongst all of them and still they go to work to deliver you’re items, very selfish some of you lot
The post office are overwhelmed at the moment so please be patient. They are working as hard as they can under the circumstances, lets not forget that.
Be kind folks.
In the last two weeks i have had to send out a dozen next day delivery letters to the
mainland,every one of them had arrived in less than 24 hours from me taking them to Newport
post office. Well done Royal Mail.
I was worried because my vital bipolar medication was 2 weeks late but luckily I had a backup. Without it I would’ve been in serious trouble. Pharmacy2u meds being delayed can mean serious issues for many people. It’s lucky we still have a postal service though with the current situation.