The issue of delayed postal delivery was raised at at Mid Ulster District Council, with Royal Mail and courier service, Evri, being singled out for criticism.
Crucially, some councillors claimed hospital appointments are regularly being missed as a result of their constituents not receiving appointment letters in a timely fashion.
Royal Mail had been contacted in relation to delayed mail deliveries in Dungannon and Clogher Valley, and the company stressed in correspondence to the local authority that steps are being taken to improve the situation.
Royal Mail Corporate Communications Campaigns Manager, Lily Sheehan, said: “We are actively modernising Royal Mail, and these efforts are beginning to deliver results, but there is still more to do.
“We will continue to focus on the actions within our control, realigning delivery rounds, improving sick absence and looking at our recruitment campaigns in low unemployment areas, but this is not something we can fix alone.
“Universal Service reform is essential to provide a more reliable and sustainable service for the benefit of all our customers.
“The acknowledgement you received in reply to your enquiry requested address information.
“If you could please share an address or postcode, we can look into this further and update you.”
Councillor James Burton (Democratic Unionist Party, Dungannon DEA) said he had been contacted by many constituents regarding delivery issues.
He continued: “In relation to the correspondence back from Royal Mail [about] the postal service being delayed, I would just like to thank Eileen [Forde, Member Support officer] and the team for their endeavours to get word back from them.
“I know it hasn’t been easy; they’ve had to sit on queues for half an hour and stuff, only to be told that they’re with the wrong person.
“The problem is still ongoing. Since this was raised, there’s multiple people that have come forward to me to say they’re getting two weeks’ [worth of] letters, all in one delivery.
“So, it is a problem, and I know that Royal Mail want examples of the addresses where the problem is occurring, and I think if you had to name them, you could just name everybody, to be honest.
“But in relation to the situation with hospital appointment letters, […] surely there should be a better system in place?
“So, could I make a proposal that we write to the Health Minister on this here, to get his take on it?
“Could this system be more efficient, be better? Because at the end of the day, people are missing their health appointments,” he added.
Councillor Burton’s proposal was seconded by Council Chair, Councillor Frances Burton (Democratic Unionist Party, Clogher Valley DEA).
Councillor Dan Kerr (Independent, Torrent DEA) mentioned similar issues in relation to parcel delivery company Evri, claiming: “Just a similar issue to what Councillor Burton has raised about Royal Mail – I’ve been having issues with Evri, about packages going missing.
“I had numerous issues with packages not being delivered, and a lack of communication for residents to try and get updates. I’m sure other locally-elected reps have got the same.
“I would like to propose we write to Evri and request a face-to-face meeting to try and get some of these issues ironed out, because our residents deserve much better.”
Councillor Trevor Wilson (Ulster Unionist Party, Cookstown DEA) suggested amending Councillor James Burton’s proposal to also recommend securing a meeting with Royal Mail, while also reaching out to Evri to highlight similar issues.
He added: “I don’t think we’ve ever had a meeting with Royal Mail, and I know you’re [going to write] to the Minister about [hospital] appointments, but could you ask Royal Mail to come along and to explain?
“Because there’s a number of issues around Castlecaufield as well where mail is not being delivered.
“And equally, Councillor Kerr has raised the issue about Evri. I have to say, that’s the biggest complaint at the moment.
“The other issue with Evri is the fact that people are now panicking, because they’re worrying now [about] their parcels not coming in as well.
“I think we’d be doing extremely well if we got a response from Evri, but I think we should do whatever we can.
“So, if James (Burton) was happy, I think we should add that in.”
Councillor James Burton indicated that he was happy for his proposal to be amended accordingly.
Councillor Eugene McConnell (Sinn Féin, Clogher Valley DEA) referred to a particular area where delayed postal delivery appears to be an ongoing issue, and indicated: “Just to concur with the comments in relation to the reply from Royal Mail.
“Like the previous speakers, I too had been on to Royal Mail in relation to 11 out of 13 houses on the Derrycloony Road in Augher having this similar problem.
“What really galls me, and what really annoys the residents, is the fact that when you contact Royal Mail, and you get through to the sorting office in Armagh, they fob you off, they tell you they can’t do nothing, but you have to lodge a complaint,” he claimed.
He continued: “I’ve lodged a complaint with the [Royal Mail] Press Office and [you have to wait] for them to get back to you. I think it’s intolerable.
“So, I think all those issues need to be addressed and confronted directly with them, because [out of] 11 constituents on the [Derrycloony] Road, three of them were waiting on hospital appointments, and [the letters] arrived almost a week after the hospital appointment was supposed to happen.
“The quicker that we can organise that meeting, the better.
“And I think just their attitude, and the way that they’re just fobbing everybody off, is no excuse for what’s happening,” Councillor McConnell further claimed.
Council Chair, Councillor Frances Burton (Democratic Unionist Party, Clogher Valley DEA) concurred with Councillor McConnell, saying: “People are waiting and are anxious about their appointments, and the waste of money that it also is for the health service.
“The nurses and doctors are waiting on a patient coming, and it’s the patient getting the blame [even though] they haven’t got the appointment [letter].
“So, anything we can do, we need to be looking about it.”
A senior Council officer indicated that he could facilitate contact with Royal Mail: “If there is specific addresses that you just want to forward through Committee Services, we have a point of contact and we [can] raise it directly with them.
“If there are specific houses or addresses, if you want to come through to ourselves, Eileen will correspond directly with them.”
Councillor McConnell remarked: “I have supplied them with the addresses, so they’re well aware of the addresses.”
The Council Chair concluded: “Well, I think [to respond] as a Council, I think it would be useful to get those. I’ve also had people from Fivemiletown, so I will supply those as well.”
