SO far, nine out of 11 letters have reached their intended destinations in a postal delay experiment – but there was a postcode lottery when it came to when they were received.
The Worcester News has launched an experiment after complaints about late post, including delays to urgent hospital letters and financial documents.
Eleven letters were posted to measure delivery times. Ten were addressed within Worcester, and one was sent outside the city.
All carried first-class stamps and were posted from a post box on London Road on Thursday afternoon (September 3).
DELAYS: Concerns about late post have centred on hospital appointments, including at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
A notice on the box said they would be collected at 9am on Friday, September 4, for delivery.
Of the letters we sent, four arrived on Saturday, three on Monday and two on Tuesday, suggesting there is a postcode lottery when it comes to delays or at least a variable service across the city.
The experiment aims to establish whether Worcester residents are receiving a first, second or third-class service for the £1.80 price of a first-class stamp.
First-class Royal Mail aims to deliver letters by the next working day, including Saturdays. However, next-day delivery is a target, not a guarantee.
Standard first-class post can sometimes take one or two days.
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Concerns about delays have continued in Worcester, with some residents telling the newspaper important letters took three weeks or more to arrive. Some people reported waiting five weeks.
Labour MP Tom Collins and Liberal Democrat councillor Sarah Murray have visited the city’s delivery office seeking answers on behalf of residents.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages Worcestershire Royal Hospital, has expanded communication options for patients, including text messages and digital communications.
Royal Mail has previously stated that more than 92 per cent of letters arrive on time and over 99 per cent within a week. This is a national comparison, while the Worcester test is focused on local households.
The letters are being monitored as they arrive, with each delivery recorded. Results will show whether the reported delays are affecting first-class post in the city and how they compare with the service’s stated next-working-day aim.
