COVID-19 UPDATE FROM ROYAL MAIL
I am writing to provide a further update on how Royal Mail is keeping customers connected in your constituency, whilst we continue to provide the best possible delivery service. We recognise the enormous value of mail, particularly for the most vulnerable, and the joy it can bring to people when they are obliged to stay at home. We are also proud to be delivering essential medicines to many who rely on them. We are working closely with the CWU and Unite to adapt our delivery methods to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our people and those to whom we deliver.
Protecting our people
We have introduced a range of new social distancing measures aimed at offering further protection to our people. We have made huge efforts to secure the necessary PPE to our people, including 3.6 million gloves, 10,000 masks and 58,000 bottles of hand sanitiser (with hundreds of thousands of further bottles due to be delivered and distributed over the coming days and weeks). We have also enhanced cleaning routines in operational sites and bulk ordered significant stock of essential cleaning supplies.
Temporary service changes
In addition to the service changes outlined on 30 March, we are limiting the opening times of our Customer Services Points (CSPs) in our local delivery offices. Because more people are home than would usually be the case, we are able to deliver the vast majority of items on the first attempt. This has resulted in fewer people needing to collect items from CSPs. With effect from Monday 6 April, our largest locations will be open between 07:00 and 11:00am. All other CSPs will be open between 07:00 and 09:00am. All CSPs will be closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. More information can be found at www.royalmail.com/services-near-you.
Playing our part
We are pleased that our people have been recognised as key workers. We have been chosen by Government as a key partner in the delivery and return of coronavirus tests to NHS and social care frontline staff up and down the country. This is a critical activity as staff who don’t have the virus will be able to return to work and relieve the pressure on our NHS. We are delivering the UK Government mailing to 30m addresses. Our people are also delivering essential prescriptions and hospital appointments as a key priority.
We continue to work hard to collect, process and deliver mail and parcels in difficult circumstances, whilst protecting our people in line with the latest guidance from public health authorities