Pensioner Lay Dead For 14 Months

THE case of a pensioner whose body lay undiscovered at his home for more than a year has raised “serious questions”, the First Minister said yesterday.

William Hunter’s badly decomposed remains were found this month, apparently 14 months after he died.

The 72-year-old’s landlord, Albyn Housing Society, asked police for help to gain access to his home in Milton of Kildary, Easter Ross. It said it tried to contact Mr Hunter several times after his housing benefit stopped being paid.

Neighbours said the former serviceman had been ill and assumed he was in hospital. No relatives live nearby.

Groups for the elderly expressed concern over the case, which was raised with Mr Salmond by the MSP for the area, Jamie Stone.

Mr Stone said: “The grim event raises issues which will deeply concern us all. How is it possible that it takes more than a year for people to start asking the right questions?”

Mr Salmond said: “The story raises serious questions. Remember, in terms of the weaknesses that may or may not have been part of the housing association or the NHS, there’s an independent regulator who will look into these matters. We won’t hesitate to involve him if necessary.”

An Age Concern Scotland spokesman said: “In communities such as Mr Hunter’s you would think that social isolation for older people would not happen.

“This is evidence that although people might have been concerned for Mr Hunter they didn’t take that final step and investigate further.”

Alasdair Rhind, a local councillor, said: “It is sad that something like this could be unnoticed in such a small community and that someone could not be missed. Questions need to be asked.”

Calum Macaulay, Albyn’s chief executive, said staff had tried three or four times to contact Mr Hunter after his housing benefit stopped. “Our housing staff were following the normal process of trying to get a response from the tenant and it’s not uncommon for that to take some time.”

Gill McVicar, general manager of the NHS Mid Highland Community Health Partnership, said Mr Hunter had cancer but was not considered terminally ill.

“When someone goes home from hospital their GP practice is informed and the practice staff and district nurse will follow up with the patient about what ongoing care they wish. Early indications show our procedures were followed.”