'We miss vital NHS appointments over post delays'

Amit Marwaha says Royal Mail is failing to deliver important health and financial letters

A man says he and his unwell mother have gone almost two months without receiving critical NHS appointment letters due to ongoing postal delivery failures in south London.

Amit Marwaha, who lives with his mum in a flat in Hackbridge, claimed since April they had not received letters in the post which had led to missed appointments.

"I have diabetes, high blood pressure, and I've had a bad infection recently. My mum has diabetes too. She needs those appointments, and they're just not arriving," he said.

Royal Mail told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that deliveries to Amit Marwaha's address had been taking place as normal and the company took "the timely delivery of mail very seriously".

Mr Marwaha, who has lived in the property for 20 years, said he has also received multiple letters intended for others, including neighbours and people living on entirely different streets.

As a result, Mr Marwaha said his mother was "panicking" about where her private health information might be being delivered to.

Alongside the NHS letters, they are also missing financial documents, including bank statements and utility bills, and worry that sensitive information could also be misdelivered, he said.

Mr Marwaha said his mother was "really behind on her bills" after not receiving them.

"My neighbour has come to give me my letters sent to their house," he said.

He said he had repeatedly raised concerns with local postal workers, but was told there was no post for him.

Mr Marwaha said he had made numerous complaints to Royal Mail, only to be told the post would arrive shortly - but these promises have not yet been fulfilled.

"They said I would receive all my mail in 72 hours after I complained, but none of it came," he said.

"They've never even come back to me or said sorry."

Last week, it was reported that Royal Mail performance data shows 71% of first-class post in Sutton, where Hackbridge is located, was delivered on time between January and March 2024, far below the 93% legal target.

'Extra safeguards'

In a bid to confirm something was wrong, he posted a letter to himself almost four weeks ago.

"It still hasn't come," he said. "I knew then something was wrong.

"I would like to get my mail, so would my neighbours. It's really stressed me out."

Royal Mail said, according to its records, post was delivered to Mr Marwaha's address on five separate occasions between 12 and 23 June.

A spokesperson said "extra safeguards" had been put in to ensure post was delivered to his flat.

"Two long-serving postmen, who are familiar with the residents and their circumstances, regularly speak with the customers and let them know whether or not mail has arrived that day," they added.