NHS IS SET TO RECEIVE ITS OWN DEDICATED POSTAL CLASSIFICATION – The move is aimed at reducing the number of missed appointments caused by delayed letters
The NHS is set to receive its own dedicated postal classification, aimed at reducing the number of missed appointments caused by delayed letters.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced a new partnership between the NHS and Royal Mail that will introduce a barcode system exclusively for NHS correspondence. The change is expected to ensure appointment letters and other vital communications reach patients promptly, even during periods of postal disruption.
In a joint letter to Ofcom, leaders from both the NHS and Royal Mail confirmed their agreement to implement an “NHS-specific barcode” that will allow Royal Mail to identify and fast-track healthcare-related mail for priority delivery.
The system is designed to maintain reliable delivery standards, including during national disruptions such as postal strikes, when standard mail services may fall behind.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS Medical Director, welcomed the update, saying it would “help ensure patients receive the crucial information they need to access NHS services without delay, even during challenging times.”
