• WHY does it surprise us that a man lay in his flat for a number of weeks (Forgotten man lay dead for months, October 6)?

I know of a couple of people who are slipping through the net. One is aged 50 and was living in isolation, a prisoner in her own flat.

She has now got counselling, which helps, but does not change the fact that she is lonely, which brings on other complications like anxiety and loss of sleep.

The other is a 98-year-old neighbour, who gets no help. When he had a stroke about five years ago he was given 12 weeks of exercise classes, then nothing.

I help by popping in and doing his shopping. His nieces have their own lives so I pop in every evening to have a chat and give a hand.

One of the difficulties is that he was getting no help with rent and benefits. Like many others he was slipping through the net.

The council needs to take more responsibility. People come and go but then nothing. It’s not about talking, it’s about action.

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