Post Office to offer DPD and Evri parcel delivery options to customers
The Post Office is offering customers the option of sending packages using DPD and Evri.
For the first time in its 360-year history, the new service will allow customers to choose their parcel carriers over the counter in branches, in addition to existing services like Royal Mail.
It will begin in selected branches in time for the peak Christmas delivery season.
It comes after an Ofcom investigation into Royal Mail last year, after it failed to meet delivery targets during 2021-22.
At the time, the operator said it was “disappointed” with its performance, apologising to customers who were affected.
Although Royal Mail and the Post Office are separate companies, the two have a long-term agreement, with the former delivering letters and parcels and the latter offering postal services.
The new service will be implemented in certain branches before Christmas
It means delays or disruptions at either, can directly affect the other.
Disruptions at Royal Mail continued into 2022-23, after it said the period was “one of the most challenging in our history”.
It said its services had been impacted by strikes and “high levels” of staff absence.
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An estimated 15.7 million people in the UK experienced postal delays in the month of May, according to research by the charity, Citizens Advice.
Neill O’Sullivan, managing director of parcels and mails at Post Office, said the choice of parcel carriers in stores will “meet changing customer preferences and the increasingly competitive market”.
“Our goal is to deliver unparalleled access to parcel services, addressing the needs of businesses and retail customers, both now and in the future,” he said.
In 2021, the Post Office began to offer Click and Collect services for both DPD and Amazon parcels, a response to the “rapid rise of online shopping”.
An outbreak of a waterborne disease in Devon has prompted urgent warnings for residents to boil their tap water.
At least 22 cases of cryptosporidiosis disease have been confirmed in and around the town of Brixham in South West England.
But what is the parasite that is making people sick, what are the symptoms of being infected with it and how serious can it be?
What is cryptosporidiosis disease?
Cryptosporidiosis is the disease caused by the parasite cryptosporidium.
Often shortened to crypto, infections can be caused by drinking contaminated water or swallowing contaminated water in swimming pools or streams.
It can also be acquired through contact with the faeces of infected animals or humans.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of cryptosporidiosis include:
• profuse watery diarrhoea
• stomach pains
• nausea or vomiting
• low-grade fever
• loss of appetite
How long does it last?
Most people develop symptoms within one to 12 days of picking up the parasite.
Symptoms usually last for about two weeks, but can last up to six weeks or longer when the immune system is not working properly.
During the illness, you might think you are getting better but the illness returns a couple of days later before you fully recover.
How serious is it?
Most people recover, but in people with severely weakened immune systems it can cause severe disease and can be fatal.
Serious cases and death used to be more common, according to Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia (UEA).
This is because before effective antiretroviral treatments were introduced for HIV/AIDS, people living with these illnesses would not recover if they picked up cryptosporidiosis.
Who is most at risk of serious illness?
People with weak immune systems are at greater risk of serious illness. This includes:
• people on some immunosuppressive drugs, for example cancer or transplant patients
• people with untreated HIV/AIDS
• malnourished children
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Residents ‘worried’ over water parasite
Does it need treatment?
There is no specific treatment for cryptosporidiosis.
It important to drink plenty of fluids as diarrhoea or vomiting can lead to dehydration, according to advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
You might also want to talk to a pharmacist about oral rehydration sachets to help replace the sugar, salts and minerals the body has lost.
Dr Lincoln Sargeant, Torbay’s Director of Public Health, said anyone with “severe symptoms like bloody diarrhoea” should contact NHS 111 or their GP.
Severe cases may require hospital treatment.
How do you know if you have crypto?
The symptoms of crypto are similar to other stomach bugs, so the only way to know for sure if you have it is for your doctor to send a sample of your faeces to be tested in a laboratory.
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How can you stop the illness spreading?
If you are ill, stay away from nursery, school or work while you have symptoms, and for at least 48 hours after they stop.
You should also avoid swimming for two weeks after being unwell.
You should not prepare food for anyone else until 48 hours after diarrhoea has stopped.
Make sure you’re using good handwashing practices too, washing your hands thoroughly when handling food and after using the toilet.
The UKHSA also advises washing bedding and towels on the hottest possible cycle.
A one-year-old girl has died after being struck by a Land Rover in the car park of a church in Aberdeenshire.
The incident occurred at Plymouth Brethren Christian Church on Eigie Road in Balmedie at around 7.45pm on Wednesday.
Police Scotland said the girl was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where she was pronounced dead a short time later.
The 40-year-old man driving the car was uninjured.
Inspector Scott Deans said: “At this time our thoughts are with the family of the deceased, along with everyone else affected by this tragic incident.
“Our investigation into the circumstances remains ongoing and we’d like to thank the wider Balmedie community for their patience and understanding as officers carry out their enquiries in the area.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
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