‘A key step forward’

The Government has announced that Royal Mail will be a key partner in the delivery and return of coronavirus tests to NHS and social care frontline staff.

This new initiative will enable NHS staff to do a coronavirus test at home, and then return their sample for testing.

Royal Mail is playing a key role in the fight against coronavirus. We welcome the support of CWU in this initiative.

How it will work

• The kits will be delivered to homes by Royal Mail and Amazon Logistics
• Royal Mail will deliver all return samples to the testing lab using Tracked 24 Returns
• NHS workers will post their sample into one of 13,000 priority postboxes - Monday to Friday only

Working in partnership with Government and the Chief Medical Officer

The health of our colleagues is our first priority. Royal Mail has worked in partnership with the Chief Medical Officer to ensure that the process is safe for our colleagues. 

The Chief Medical Officer has consulted with a panel of experts on the safe transport of the completed Covid-19 test kits. The following steps have been put in place to prevent any cross-contamination:

• NHS workers will be required to wash their hands immediately before and after sample collection, and again before packaging
• They should also wipe the external packaging with a disinfectant wipe
• The return packaging that will be used for the completed test kits complies with WHO Category B packaging requirements for the safe transport of infectious viruses

Additional steps we have put in place

In addition, Royal Mail is putting in place the following procedures to safeguard colleagues: 

• Collections drivers will be issued with plastic bags to pick up and bag the items so they do not have to touch them directly
• We are also reminding colleagues to wash their hands before, during and after their rounds, in line with guidance we have already issued

Working together to deliver for the country 

Our CEO, Rico Back, said: ‘Royal Mail fully understands the devastating impact of the coronavirus outbreak on families, businesses and communities across the UK. We have a responsibility to help people stay connected, especially in this crisis when many are unable to leave their home.

‘The Universal Postal Service provides a lifeline for businesses and communities across the UK, and never more so than at this difficult time. We already deliver vital Government mail in relation to coronavirus. We are working closely with pharmacies and NHS trusts across the UK. And we are delivering many prescriptions and hospital appointments.

‘This is of key importance for us. We will safely deliver these vital tests, a key step forward in the nation’s battle against the virus.’

Ray Ellis, CWU, said: ‘It’s great to see the Government recognising the value of Royal Mail’s network and the work our members carry out at this time of national crisis.’