Cost of DHSC letters revealed

Former operator racked up backlog

Posting letters cost the health department more than £350 a day under a previous contract, it's been revealed.

Minister Kate Beecroft gave the figures in response to a query on waiting times for referrals from Onchan MHK Rob Callister this week.

Government outsourced the writing and sending of letters from Noble's Hospital until recently, at a cost of £130,000 per year.

The deal was scrapped in August.

Around 80,000 letters are sent to patients annually, with an average production time of nine days between writing and postage.

This is considerably shorter for urgent referrals.

All patients receive letters by default, unless they opt out.