A WOMAN who was desperately worried about one of her neighbours asked me for help recently.

It appeared that the neighbour, a woman with a mental problem, had had no money for some considerable time - so consequently had no food and no electricity, therefore no heating or hot water, in fact no anything.

The first woman, whom I shall call Mrs Smith, had been trying for some weeks to get something done about her neighbour without any success. In her words "I was fobbed off from pillar to post. Everybody claimed that it was somebody else's responsibility."

As a last resort Mrs Smith telephoned me because she was going on holiday, and did not want to go without something being done. Several phone calls later I found that the woman's mental situation was known and steps were being taken to try and help.

Two days later the woman was in full-time care, so was being fed properly and receiving psychiatric help.

But the system in this case failed, possibly because of all the rules and regulations that have to be complied with before any action can be taken.

My purpose in writing is not to blame anybody. My purpose is to commend Mrs Smith for her good neighbourliness, which to her is a way of life, and to ask everybody to be like Mrs Smith and look out for the welfare of neighbours whether young or old, healthy or infirm.

Mrs Smith would be embarrassed if I used her real name but she possibly saved the life of her neighbour from starvation.

The reward to her is to be thought of as a good neighbour. We should all follow this person's example.

MIKE SHELLIE

Health Concern councillor

Wyre Forest District Council

Wilton Avenue

Kidderminster