Family receive formal apology for Alzheimer’s sufferer’s ‘unnecessary stress’

Dundee City Council has issued a formal apology to the family of a 90-year-old Alzheimer’s sufferer after threatening to break down her front door to service her central heating boiler.

Housing convener Jimmy Black has ordered systems to be reviewed after Broughty Ferry woman Lena Hannan’s experience.

Because of Mrs Hannan’s condition, her family had asked to look after her affairs. However, after several failed attempts to gain access, the council wrote to Mrs Hannan threatening to force entry to the house to perform the annual check.

Mr Black said: ”The housing department has apologised to the family for the unnecessary stress which was caused.

”The annual gas safety checks are vitally important, but there has to be a more careful consideration of people’s individual circumstances when letters are sent out. I have asked officers to review systems and procedures in this regard.”

Mrs Hannan’s daughter, May Smith (49), said: ”I welcome the news that procedures are to be reviewed as things like this could be very harrowing for frail elderly people.

”This shouldn’t have happened in the first place and it is obvious there was a breakdown in communication between departments of the council.”