RMCtv : INCREASE IN LFDs (processing and deliveries please read)

[POSTMAN]

CV19 Test Kits and Sunday Deliveries

INCREASE IN LFDs (processing and deliveries please read)

The new variant (Omicron) & Government directive on testing has resulted in unprecedented demand for Covid test kits in excess of our current capacity. Paragon, our test kit fulfilment partner, has been working hard to fulfil these orders but demand for test kits is now so high that we are required to provide additional capacity to ensure that Royal Mail can deliver the amount of test kits required in the UK.

As an interim solution, the following sites have been converted to act as additional fulfilment centres to support Paragon and to allow the public to keep ordering test kits to meet demand.

From 16th December 2021

Swindon WBC- Swindon WBC, Unit 2 C, Wheatstone Road, Swindon SN3 5HG
Warrington WBC- WRT, Eagle Park Drive, Warrington, WA2 8AA
Tetris PSC- Rockware Avenue, Greenford, UB6 0AD (covering SEWBC catchment)

WC 20th December 2021

Belfast WBC- Northern Ireland Mail Centre, Enterprise Way, Newtownabbey, BT36 4HQ
Scotland WBC- Scottish Distribution Centre, Canyon Road, Excelsior Park, Netherton Industrial Estate, Wishaw, ML2 0XX, Scotland

These sites will pick, label and dispatch LFD kits to our Mail Centres (MCs) and the MCs will then dispatch these to delivery offices (DOs) with all other test kits from Paragon.

This additional support from these sites is expected to be in place until mid to late-January when Paragon will be increasing their own capacity to meet demand.

Please refer to the briefs that were released at 1700 today for processing and deliveries for further details which will be available from your line manager.

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[ssdd]

Is it time for finger-scanners on delivery yet. My arm's in and out my pocket like a fiddler's elbow as it is!

[POSTMAN]

PCR KITS FOR DELIVERY: IMMEDIATE POLYBAG COLOUR CHANGE

A temporary change in PCR polybag colour has had to be implemented today due to volumes being processed by Paragon. Please share this with your teams asap.

Message is:
Polybags for PCR kits to home addresses will start to come through in grey bags, as well as purple bags, from today (Sunday 19th December).
There is NO change to elective care polybags which continue to be red.
We expect this to be in place until the middle of January

A brief has just been released to the operation to support this and will be available via your line manager

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[Mr Rush]

So long as they have a Tracked label on them, I don't think the colour of the bag is going to impact the delivery rate.

[SpacePhoenix]

Don't think it'll be too long at this rate before we get the odd run to DOs being purely test kits

[POSTMAN]

LFDs between the Eves

FAO PROCESSING, WBC/TETRIS AND DELIVERIES

As we approach Christmas and New Year, it’s very difficult to predict the demand for test kits.
To ensure that we deliver all of the standard PCR and emergency antiviral PCR kits, the UKHSA and Royal Mail have agreed that the delivery of LFDs will be deferred between 26th-28th December inclusive and 2nd-3rd January inclusive (plus 4thJanuary in Scotland). There will also be an impact on the overall volumes of LFD test kits until the 4th January.

We have released a brief detailing this but the key messages are:
The delivery of LFDs will be deferred between 26th-28th December inclusive and 2nd-3rd January inclusive (plus 4th January in Scotland).
MCs need to ensure they carefully manage this deferred mail following the instructions in the brief and label each deferred york with a poster circulated in the brief whilst holding them in the MC.
PSMs can be used to process LFD kits to support with this volume as an interim measure until 4th January.

Briefs have now been released to the operation so please contact your line manager.

[Cucumber]

Feel sorry for the customers waiting in line at the post office to post a small package and asking for it to be "First Class".

Good luck.

[SpacePhoenix]

LFDs between the Eves

FAO PROCESSING, WBC/TETRIS AND DELIVERIES

As we approach Christmas and New Year, it’s very difficult to predict the demand for test kits.
To ensure that we deliver all of the standard PCR and emergency antiviral PCR kits, the UKHSA and Royal Mail have agreed that the delivery of LFDs will be deferred between 26th-28th December inclusive and 2nd-3rd January inclusive (plus 4thJanuary in Scotland). There will also be an impact on the overall volumes of LFD test kits until the 4th January.

We have released a brief detailing this but the key messages are:
The delivery of LFDs will be deferred between 26th-28th December inclusive and 2nd-3rd January inclusive (plus 4th January in Scotland).
MCs need to ensure they carefully manage this deferred mail following the instructions in the brief and label each deferred york with a poster circulated in the brief whilst holding them in the MC.
PSMs can be used to process LFD kits to support with this volume as an interim measure until 4th January.

Briefs have now been released to the operation so please contact your line manager.

Can't see them being held at the MC as we won't have the room, more likely they'll get held at the DOs

[Sir Henry]

That'll be EVERY fire exit blocked then.