I had to laugh at concerns that a reduction in Royal Mail deliveries would affect NHS patients (Plans for Royal Mail delivery cuts could risk patient safety, NHS leaders warn, 6 April).
I’m under the care of two NHS departments. From one I get digital letters, as is my preference (I’m 60, and expect this to be the norm). When I asked the other department to do the same, I was told that all they have is an old Nokia phone so they can’t send digital copies.
A recent letter was put in the department post on the first of the month. It reached the mailroom and was postmarked on the sixth. I received it on the eighth.
When I needed a prescription, the nurse specialist said she’d mail it. When I pointed out how long it would take, she said she’d put a stamp on it and walk outside to a postbox. I got it the next day.
Kathryn Kelly
Gosport, Hampshire
I understand the position of Royal Mail, which is seeing the volume of letters posted reducing significantly while costs rise and so wants to cut deliveries. As an NHS worker and someone undergoing treatment in an NHS hospital, I also understand concerns raised by NHS providers, Healthwatch England and others.
But when a patient receives five letters on the same day from different teams in the same organisation, it does emphasise that the NHS is inefficient. All these letters could have been sent via email (one letter had already been sent by email) or via the NHS app.
Yes, there will be patients who are not digitally literate, and patient choice is paramount, but the default method of communication should be email. It will save a fortune and allay the concerns raised.
Joseph Pinnock
Colchester
There is a fresh threat to democracy that has come to my notice. I’m very worried about the upcoming elections and postal votes. Our local postal service is erratic, to say the least – last week we had no post at all. If my postal vote fails to reach the town hall, it’s wasted. How can we ensure that this doesn’t happen?
Serena Nuttall
London