LTB 251/20 – COVID–19 Test Kits Home Collection Service

LTB 251/20
12th May 2020

For the Immediate Attention of All:

Postal Branches
Divisional Representatives
Area Safety Representatives
Area Delivery Representatives Area Processing Representatives Area Distribution Representatives

COVID–19 Test Kits Home Collection Service

Dear Colleagues,

Branches and Representatives will be aware that Covid-19 testing services are now being made available via different access points. In this regard the CWU has been engaging with RMG on a cross departmental basis, to ensure that the services that are being provided for key workers and their families, through various initiatives on behalf of the Government/NHS, are collected and processed quickly and safely.

As detailed within the previous update contained within LTB 242/20 colleagues will note that one of the initiatives being provided by Royal Mail on behalf of the Government/NHS is a Home Collection service. Currently the Royal Mail owned eCourier service are collecting Covid-19 Test Kits from home addresses and delivering them to Mail Centres for onward processing and delivery by Royal Mail to laboratories. However, as the need to rapidly increase the numbers of individuals for testing grows and the service provision is expanded accordingly there is also the requirement to provide an in-house operational solution.

Therefore, we have been in discussion with Royal Mail in relation to expanding the home self- testing collection service to the rest of the UK. In this regard further to a successful pilot in the TR postcode area, we have jointly agreed with Royal Mail to extend the service on a phased basis to a further 159 units, which are attached and contained within the spreadsheet for information at Annex A.

As part of this expansion we have agreed a Phase 1 roll-out plan and we have also concluded a National Joint Statement with Royal Mail which covers the necessary operational and local engagement details and safeguards necessary in order to successfully provide this service. This is attached at Annex B.

The Safe Systems of Work for the home collection of these items is also attached as below:

Annex C: Delivery & Collection Service Annex D: Doorstep Collection Service

Equally, as demand for the Home Collection service increases additional Mail Centres/RDC’s will be coming on line and utilising the Tracked Returns process. Attached for assistance are the relevant SSoW and Standard Operating Procedures for the Processing function:

Annex E: SSOW Processing
Annex F: CV2 Outward Primary Sort RM Tracked
Annex G: CV3 Process and Scan Tracked Returns 24 Covid19 Test Packs Annex H: CV4 Delivery to Covid19 Test Pack Lab

We appreciate that members will have concerns in relation to the handling of the test kits and we believe that every effort has been made to ensure that maximum protections are being provided. However, all activity relating to testing initiatives will be continued to be monitored at National level.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:

Delivery & Collections: Mark Baulch, Assistant Secretary, email: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference: 600.

Processing, Area & Distribution: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference: 014.14.

or

Health & Safety: Ray Ellis, Acting Head of Health & Safety, email: lpietrzykowska@cwu.org quoting reference E1/20.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Baulch
Assistant Secretary

Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary

Ray Ellis
Acting Head of Health & Safety

LTB – 251/20 – COVID-19 Test Kits Home Collection Service

Annex A – Hub Mapping Covid19 May 20

Annex B – Joint Statement COVID Home Collection National Expansion

Annex C – COVID 19 Test Kit SSOW Deliveries and Collections (final)