We deliver millions of letters and parcels throughout the UK every single day and the vast majority arrive on time.” They said Royal Mail tracked the quality of service and had a process to “optimise the delivery of NHS mail when and where there is local disruption”.
IDS said first-class mail arriving within one working day dropped to 76% in the three months to 29 September, below the 93% target; second-class mail arriving within three working days fell to 93%, short of the 98.5% goal.
John said in 2025, management had encouraged staff to stop taking on overtime – which can often be paid at a higher rate for the first 10 hours – which he said would increase delays even further, meaning letters got left behind.
They told stories of delayed medical letters, small business disruption and unreliable mail that arrived in clumps, while postal workers said they had been told to cut overtime shifts.
And now – with a £3.6bn takeover of IDS by the Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský nearing completion – Ofcom has said rules should be relaxed, with Royal Mail allowed to deliver second-class letters on alternate weekdays and stop Saturday deliveries.
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