A vulnerable woman who lay dead unnoticed in a social housing flat for more than three years wrote in her diary that she was starving and running out of food, an inquest has heard.
The “mummified and almost skeletal” remains of 38-year-old Laura Winham, who was deaf and had schizophrenia, were found in her flat in Woking in May 2021. Her family, whom she had asked to stop contacting her, say she had been “abandoned and left and to die” by social and mental health services.
A pathologist told the inquest at Surrey coroner’s court this week that it was impossible to narrow down a time of death. But a calendar in Winham’s flat had dates crossed off until 1 November 2017, the court heard.
According to extracts from her diary, which were read out by coroner Karen Henderson on Thursday, Winham was running low on food and money.
An entry dated 28 September 2017 read: “My mobile gave up on 7 September. I got a Tesco run in before it died. I have slept weeks away … I haven’t stocked any food for months because I don’t know what’s happening.”
Other extracts suggested she had been living off potatoes and cheese and had “about £5 left on me”. Another dated from October 2017 said: “It has been a whole month since my last food shop. I cannot believe I have survived this long.”
An extract from 15 September 2017 said: “Wish I’d bought rice. Dreaming of [food]. Anyway, I’m starving.”
The inquest previously heard that Winham’s family had been unable to maintain contact with her after years of mental health struggles caused her to believe they would harm her.
Woking borough council and Surrey county council have changed their policies since Winham’s death, the inquest has also heard.
Luke Addams, director of practice, assurance and safeguarding, at Surrey council told the inquest that someone from the council should have tried to visit Winham rather than communicate with her by letter. An official from Woking council admitted that Winham’s vulnerabilities should have been flagged to the company running the council’s housing stock at the time.
On Wednesday the inquest also heard that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) sent Winham letters in February 2016 asking her to make a claim for the new personal independence payment, which replaced the disability living allowance (DLA).
They explained that she may be required to attend a medical. Winham responded to Woking council expressing alarm. She wrote: “I have only lived on my savings and DLA benefit,” the court heard. These concerns were not passed on to the DWP, the court heard.
The inquest continues.
