Posties to combat loneliness with 'check-and-chat' visits to thousands of vulnerable and isolated elderly Brits

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 15 Oct 2018, 13:39

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Staff will take time in their rounds to speak to the lonely and vulnerable in three pilot schemes, the PM will announce today

POSTIES are to be thrown into the front line of Theresa May’s war against loneliness – by “checking up” on vulnerable Brits.

The PM will today reveal postal workers will take time out of their usual delivery round to speak to lonely and isolated people as she launches a cross-Government Loneliness Strategy.

GPs will also be asked to prescribe social activities such as community art clubs or cooking classes for the lonely.

And Ministers will launch a review of the impact the explosion of social media is having on loneliness among Britain’s youth.

Some 200,000 older people have not had a conversation with a friend or relative for over a month. And GPs claim loneliness can be linked to conditions such as heart disease or Alzheimer’s.

The PM will say: “Loneliness is a reality for too many people in our society today. IT can affect anyone of any age and background.

“This strategy is only the beginning of delivering a long and far reaching social change in our country.”

Postal workers launched a pioneering ‘Call and Check’ service in Jersey on the Channel Islands four years ago – with staff chatting to OAPs, help arrange grocery deliveries or book doctor’s appointments for them.

The Royal Mail has approved trials of a similar scheme in Liverpool, Whitby and New Malden in Surrey.

Theresa May committed £20 million for charities and community projects tackling the misery of loneliness in June.

It followed a ground-breaking report from the Jo Cox Commission established by the Labour MP murdered during the Referendum campaign.

Announcing the strategy today, the PM will say three quarters of GPs claim to see between one and five people a day suffering with loneliness.

A survey earlier this month claimed 16 to 24 year-olds were the “most likely” to feel lonely because of the pressure to present a perfect life on social media.

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch was given the brief of ‘Minister for Loneliness’ in January.

Speaking yesterday she said businesses from Sainsbury’s to the National Grid and British Red Cross had also signed up to do more to help their staff cope with feeling lonely.

She said: “Nobody should feel alone or be left with no one to turn to. Loneliness is a serious issue that affects people of all ages and backgrounds and it is right that we tackle it head on.”

scribe · Post by **scribe** » 15 Oct 2018, 17:20

With all due respect, are they having a laugh, when would we get the time, i keep getting roasted because i don't always finish on time now lol!!

motherhubbard · Post by **motherhubbard** » 15 Oct 2018, 17:34

scribe wrote:With all due respect, are they having a laugh, when would we get the time,

They are going to give you 10 minutes per call, assuming the chat takes 5.

Post by **standanddeliver** » 15 Oct 2018, 20:53

Where is the money for all the extra overtime coming from?

Post by **baldrick** » 16 Oct 2018, 08:33

standanddeliver wrote:Where is the money for all the extra overtime coming from?

Radio 4 Today program had someone saying RM would charge a standard fee equivalent to a Special Delivery letter cost, £6.75, for a 10 minute visit.

lightningpostman · Post by **lightningpostman** » 16 Oct 2018, 11:00

d2d's, bigger walks, collections on walks, untrained photograaphers (safe place photos) and now we are untrained and frankly unskilled social workers being paid the same wage yet expected to do more and more.

daveyeff · Post by **daveyeff** » 16 Oct 2018, 16:49

read gas meters, then shove brush up arse and sweep the roads as we go etc

Robotpostie · Post by **Robotpostie** » 16 Oct 2018, 22:45

Theresa May? Doesn't she remember we are a Private company now not a Public service. Maybe she has Dementia and forgot the Tories sold us off. We have just had our hours of work reduced by 12 minutes a day but with the same amount of work,and they want to give us more work. It's not like the old days when you could help or do things, rounds are bigger and more to do now. Managers watching your not slacking and hassling you for not working fast enough or working over. They might expect us to take this time out of our meal breaks for our role as social workers. Just take half your delivery back to the office and say you run out of time doing your support work.

RTP · Post by **RTP** » 22 Nov 2018, 20:55

Was on Granada news tonight. Seems that the posties in Liverpool have plenty of time to do this . Think I might apply for a transfer.

Mobey · Post by **Mobey** » 23 Nov 2018, 18:07

If her stupid policies of cutbacks and austerity didn't happen, there would still be day care centres and other places for people to go too? They wouldn't all be closed down!

She's destroying all the public sector organisations with pay cut after pay cut. Public sector organisations have reduced staff numbers. The NHS is being chronically underfunded! Argh.

Post by **Chimps_tea_party** » 23 Nov 2018, 22:59

"A survey earlier this month claimed 16 to 24 year-olds were the “most likely” to feel lonely because of the pressure to present a perfect life on social media".

Why no plans to have posties check on this age group then?

Post by **baldrick** » 24 Nov 2018, 06:52

And does nobody care about the lonely housewives?

ROYALMAILCHAT