Elderly residents impacted by delays to vital letters in post

ELDERLY residents waiting for important NHS letters, including cancer reviews and hospital appointments, have been hit by not receiving any second class post for around two weeks.

- By CHRIS GEE

Residents living at a sheltered housing estate in Horwich said delayed post had even led to a man missing an important hospital treatment as a letter inviting him to an appointment had arrived after the date it was due to take place.

The matter has been taken up by Bolton West MP Phil Brickell, who said it had been ‘indicated’ to him that Royal Mail is ‘prioritising parcels over letters during the busy festive period’.

Royal Mail said they acknowledged how ‘important NHS letters are, particularly when they relate to hospital appointments, and they ‘take any reports of delay extremely seriously.’ Mr Brickell’s office said it had been contacted by a resident of a sheltered housing scheme of 28 flats in Horwich, Brownlow Court, who had been anxiously awaiting a cancer review letter.

After complaints were made to Royal Mail, she received 13 pieces of post in one day, her first post for nearly two weeks. The woman estimated that three quarters of the letters were two weeks old including the cancer review letter, which had a sent date in November.