COVID-19 outbreaks at U.K. Royal Mail centers and resulting postage delays are causing some patients in the area of Basildon, Essex, to miss necessary imaging studies, according to a local news report.
Outbreaks among Royal Mail staff have led to shortages of staff as workers take time off for sickness and quarantines and 28 areas of the U.K. have been hit with postal delays, including Basildon, which is located east of London. One resident reported missing a mammogram because a letter notifying her of an appointment was delivered late, according to the Echo newspaper, a publication covering Basildon, Canvey Island, and Southend.
In a service update on January 15, the Royal Mail said that there are delays in some areas because of "exceptionally high volumes of mail" posted during the latest lockdown as well as safety measures at local mail centers and delivery offices to keep staff and customers safe.
