LOCAL politicians are turning up the heat on bosses at Royal Mail over delays to deliveries which have affected homes and businesses across Inverclyde.
The area’s MP, Martin McCluskey, and MP Stuart McMillan have both renewed their criticisms of the service after vital mail, including details of residents’ NHS appointments and legal documents, was held up in the approach to Christmas.
Both Mr McCluskey and Mr McMillan visited the Greenock sorting office to speak to staff about the disruption experienced over the Christmas period.
Mr McMillan, who raised his concerns at First Minister’s Questions at the Scottish Parliament just before Christmas, says 160 constituents have now contacted his office to say they were affected by the delays,
Both he and Mr McCluskey have contacted NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to urge them to make greater use of mail tracking services so that appointment letters and other important information can be better monitored.
Mr McCluskey said: "Since visiting the sorting office, I have continued to push this issue at the highest level. I’ve spoken directly to the postal services minister, Blair McDougall, and made clear the frustration and disruption people across Inverclyde experienced over Christmas.
"Local postal workers work extremely hard, often in difficult circumstances, but it’s clear that across Scotland there were failures that left them without the support they needed during a critical period.
“I will continue to press for answers, accountability and improvements so residents can have confidence in the services they rely on.”
Mr McCluskey said he planned to hold further talks with the postal services minister this week, and encouraged anyone still experiencing problems with mail delivery to contact his office.
Mr McMillan also visited the sorting office and also raised issues about missed NHS appointments and legal documents, such as jury citations, not being received in time.
He has also written to the health board asking them to sign up to a barcode system which enables Royal Mail staff to identify NHS correspondence and to prioritise it accordingly.
Mr McMillan said: “During my visit to the local delivery office, the line ‘we always deliver Christmas’ was repeated several times.
"I stressed this wasn’t just about Christmas cards or gifts – particularly as many said they’d not had any issues with parcel deliveries.
“It involved NHS appointments being missed, invoices and bills not paid in time, and legal documents, including jury citations, not being responded to in time.
“The Health Secretary has also confirmed he has asked the chief operating officer to raise this matter to ensure appointment letters include the use of the Royal Mail NHS specific barcode."
“I’ve also written to the Royal Mail to seek a meeting with the chief executive, and have received an interim response reassuring me that my concerns are being investigated.”
The Royal Mail has been contacted for comment.
