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Original poster

NHS letters delivered to my house for people I don’t know

35 replies

BrianWankum · 22/10/2023 23:09

I’ve lived in this house over 20 years. In that time we’ve had a couple of people give our address for nefarious purposes (one got caught not buying a £2 train ticket), but this weekend we’ve had two letters delivered, marked NHS and CONFIDENTIAL, to our exact address and postcode but names I’ve never seen before.

There’s a return address on the back of each envelope, but I kind of want to complain to someone more directly. Would love to get some sort of answer about how come these people have given our address, but I know I’ll never know.

What would you do? Can you think of anything else I can do other than just return to sender?

OP posts:
WhateverMate · 22/10/2023 23:11

I'd open them (ignoring the MN pearl clutching) and ring the number on the letters.

LadyLolaRuben · 22/10/2023 23:19

Contact the issuer and advise them. They'll stop a repeat. They can only use the addresses they are given so not their fault if that was the case. Also ask them what they'd like you to do with the letters

VikingVolva · 22/10/2023 23:21

Either you return to sender

Or you open it to get a phone number so you can tell the relevant department that there is a mistake. I'd feel all kinds of wrong opening someone else's medical letters. But two arriving at once like this? I'd be worried that something was up (though I can't think what that could possibly be)

Most likely reason (given how badly NHS admin can stuff up letters) is that something has gone wrong in a database or names and addresses have got out of step when printing. Have you been expecting any letters from NHS?

Also, if it's a genuine NHS admin cock up, the other person in all this might be glad if it's drawn to the admin team's attention. If you just return to sender, it'll end up lost in the black hole of a mail room, and the mistake won't be corrected in time, and may never be corrected at all. Which is a bit shit, if you were the intended recipient awaiting an appointment (and could be kicked off the waiting list for missing an appointment even when you never knew one had been made)

UniversalTruth · 22/10/2023 23:22

You could email the PALS department of the NHS Trust who sent the emails. Probably the quickest way to let them know that the person hasn't been notified of their appointments, and they might get back to you with feedback as to how it happened if you request that.

WantToChangeUsername · 22/10/2023 23:24

I received 2 letters for the same person, but my address. They were confidential, but I did open one to call the number (I assumed it was an appointment and the person would need to know as soon as possible).
The receptionist along with another staff member solved the mystery- the letters were for someone that lived across the road from me.
I told the receptionist I'd hand the letters to them, and explain the situation (told her I'd opened the letter to find phone number).
They were understanding, and grateful because the appointment was a week away and they weren't sure why they hadn't heard!

Bemyclementine · 22/10/2023 23:25

I've had exactly the same thing happen here , except I know they are previous owners of this house. I've lived here 13 yrs, a lady before me 7 yrs, then thus couple. Each of them have had nhs letters this weekend, 1 brown envelope, 1 standard white /blue print. How bizarre!

AlexaCanYouHearMe · 22/10/2023 23:26

WhateverMate · 22/10/2023 23:11

I'd open them (ignoring the MN pearl clutching) and ring the number on the letters.

This. ^ It is NOT illegal to open a letter addressed to someone else. Only if you intend to cause mischief/fraud/theft etc with the information in the letter.

I have often opened letters addressed to someone else (but with my address on it.) It's the only way to deal with some things.

If you put 'return to sender' on the envelope, and pop it back in the postbox, there's a fair chance it will NOT go back to the business/company it came from!

Many companies use distribution centres for their post, and the address on the back of the envelope isn't the same as the one on the letter (the company's actual address.) Ergo, the letter is not being sent back to the people who wrote it.

There is no guarantee the letter will get back to the person/company who sent it, if you just put 'return to sender' and stick it in the postbox.

SleepingStandingUp · 22/10/2023 23:31

WhateverMate · 22/10/2023 23:11

I'd open them (ignoring the MN pearl clutching) and ring the number on the letters.

This. It might be a glitch not of the Ned persons doing, and they won't get their appt in time. Just spend 5 minutes doing something kind for someone else.

henrysugar12 · 22/10/2023 23:35

I think there's something odd going on with these NHS letters! I've seen the same thing on a few facebook groups about people receiving letters for previous tenants and unknown people at their address.

It looks like some data breach and so should be reported to the information commissioners office.

Original poster
BrianWankum · 22/10/2023 23:50

Well I opened them and they’re reminders to get covid jabs as the recipients are over 65. So they could be long past residents of this house (they’re not the previous owner) and their address is still on a database somewhere? I still feel like I want my address not to be connected with them though!

OP posts:
Gloschick · 22/10/2023 23:55

They may well have not updated their address with their GP. A lot of people don't so that they can stay registered with their GP even though they have moved out of area.

Original poster
BrianWankum · 23/10/2023 00:00

Yeah could be that. They can’t have lived here for over 30 years though!

OP posts:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 23/10/2023 00:32

I’d ring the hospital and tell them - it could be a mistake on their part. A BiL once had an appt. letter sent to an address he’d left 17 years previously - the hospital had his current address, other appt. letters had been addressed correctly. Luckily the owners of his old house had forwarded the letter or he’d never have known.

HelloWorldLovelyDay · 23/10/2023 00:50

I've had exactly the same. I've had 2 covid nhs letters for people who have never lived at my address. I've lived here for 13 years and never had letters for one of these people before. The other I've sent back to sender many times without luck.
I've started to wonder if someone is using my address for fraud. Its disconcerting. I'll try calling the number on the letter too, hopefully might help.

bobbitybobbitybob · 23/10/2023 00:52

There's been loads of these on our local FB pages, one for someone who moved to another continent 20+ years ago - just put back in post box

saraclara · 23/10/2023 00:54

This is going on all over my local Facebook pages. It seems to be a computer glitch and they're sending out letters about Covid vaccination to everywhere that anyone over 65 has ever lived.

Open it, and if it's just a Covid reminder, either bin or or reseal it and send it back 'not at this address'

InTheRainOnATrain · 23/10/2023 00:55

If you move abroad, it’s nigh on impossible to deregister yourself with the GP - speaking from experience! If they’ve been abroad all that time then maybe that could be why?

garlictwist · 23/10/2023 00:55

We get these too for previous occupants. I just chuck them. They clearly haven't updated their address so not much you can do.

Icannotbudget · 23/10/2023 01:15

They are almost certainly vaccination invitation letters. We have have four in the last week for two previous owners of our house. Not the ‘regular’ last few owners but going further back. Multiple posts on local fb group saying similar.
it does seem a bit odd and like There’s some secondary out of date list being used.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 23/10/2023 01:18

MIL has had at least two covid vaccine reminders sent to different addresses - here and her previous address where she hasn’t been registered for over four years.

Growlybear83 · 23/10/2023 01:32

I've received three letters in the last couple of days for people who have never lived in my house as well, all from the NHS. I'm planning to give them back to the postman in the morning - I assume he will recognise the name if they live nearby.

henrysugar12 · 23/10/2023 10:10

You all need to report them here: ico.org.uk/for-organisations/report-a-breach/personal-data-breach/

Sarahhelenrose · 24/10/2023 08:08

Very weird as I’m exactly the same and I’ve had 3 this week!?

SoGladofYou · 24/10/2023 08:11

I too have seen similar messages on FB posts this week. Unless we’re all in the same group???

Mrsjayy · 24/10/2023 08:15

WhateverMate · 22/10/2023 23:11

I'd open them (ignoring the MN pearl clutching) and ring the number on the letters.

I would as well I wouldn't post as not at this address it could just be a clerical error.