Pat Ramsey calls for urgent review of postal delays in Derry after hospital letter arrives late
Former Derry Mayor Pat Ramsey has said that postal delays in Derry are resulting in hospital appointment letters arriving too late for patients, as he warned that the people of the city were being “failed miserably.”
Mr Ramsey was instructed to attend an appointment with his orthopaedic surgeon on Monday, 5 January. However, he did not receive the letter until Thursday, 8 January, despite the letter being dated December 22, 2025. He has now called for an urgent, independent review of the postal service in Derry.
He said: “There has been a major crisis in Derry for some time now, in terms of the deliveries of letters. Anybody with any forward thinking would have realised there would have been a major surge at Christmas. They have failed miserably the people of this city and they continue to fail them.
“It’s gotten to the stage that is an unacceptable level of service to the public. There is a need for some forward thinking in terms of the planning of the sorting office in Derry.”
Mr Ramsey added that he wanted to make it clear that he and others are not blaming the delivery drivers and couriers but they hold the management accountable for the letter delays.
The former Foyle MLA became aware of his appointment at Altnagelvin when he was informed that patients can access appointment information through the My Care system.
He said: “There were two appointments I was aware of but this one I wasn't so if I hadn't gone online I would have missed it.”
The former Foyle SDLP MLA added: “Anybody nowadays who is waiting on a consultant, whether it's orthopaedic, general surgery or, God forbid, anybody who is waiting for tests for cancer, they are letting the people down.
“People are stressed enough worrying about their health and this is affecting people’s health. If you are not up to the management of the postal service in this city, move aside and let someone else do it.”
Mr Ramsey noted that Derry has an ageing population, many of whom may not be familiar with social media or confident using the internet. He suggested that the post office should begin by developing a plan for management to recruit additional staff and ensure that letters are not left unattended in the sorting office.
“Go to the sorting office yourself in the morning and say you are concerned about letters. ‘Can I have my letters?’ said Mr Ramsey, addressing people in Derry who are worried about missing post. He added that there is no point in calling the office, and advised people to phone their consultant or ask a son, daughter, or family member to download the My Care app.
“People shouldn't feel embarrassed to go to the sorting office and say ‘I want my letters’ and get them.”
Responding to Mr Ramsey, a Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Christmas is our busiest time of year, with volumes more than doubling as more people shop online than ever before. We’re grateful to our posties who worked incredibly hard throughout the festive period to deliver for customers. Data shows that nationally more than 99% of First Class and Second Class letters and parcels posted by the last recommended dates were delivered by Christmas Eve. Where there were localised delays, teams acted quickly to minimise disruption and keep services moving.”
“It's worth noting that we have introduced an NHS barcode (which trusts must work with us to introduce) and many high-volume senders (for example, some NHS trusts) use our economy product, rather than standard First- or Second-Class services. Items sent using this service are only delivered alongside a First- or Second-Class item or after five working days from posting. As a result, some residents may see a number of items arrive at the same time.”
In December, Royal Mail addressed the issue of parcel prioritisation, stating: “There’s some nuance here that’s worth raising. It’s important to provide context to why, in certain situations, parcels may need to be moved first.
“Our job is to deliver every item within the timescales customers have paid for, and our aim is always to deliver letters and parcels on time. However, during exceptionally busy periods like Christmas, when volumes double, delivery offices can become very congested. Parcels take up far more space than letters, and in large numbers they can block walkways and create health and safety risks.
Speaking to the Journal also in December, People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin said: "Households depend on Royal Mail to deliver letters on time.
“It has been put to Royal Mail bosses again and again that vital communication from the Health Service, for the Housing Executive and others is contained in those letters.
“Delays can have a huge impact on anyone waiting for an appointment or housing offer. Therefore, these letters cannot be deprioritised.
“It is Royal Mail's duty to ensure delivery of letters on time.
“They know volume goes through the roof at this time of year - so they have plenty of time to recruit additional staff and identify solutions to congestion.”
A spokesperson for the Western Trust said: “With encompass now fully operational across Northern Ireland, patients and service users from across the region can benefit from My Care, the dedicated patient portal. My Care provides secure online access to personal health information. Everyone is encouraged to sign up. Through My Care you can access information like your medications, appointments and some test results.”
You can access My Care here: https://dhcni.hscni.net/digital-portfolio/encompass/my-care/