An inquest heard that a vulnerable woman, who had been lying dead in a social housing unit for over three years without anybody knowing, had written in her journal that she was running out of food and starving.

The “mummified and almost skeletal” remains of 38-year-old Laura Winham, who was deaf and had suffered from schizophrenia, were found at her flat in Woking, in May 2021. She had requested that her family not communicate with her, but they maintain that social and mental health services "abandoned and left and to die" her.

A pathologist stated earlier this week at the Surrey coroner's court inquiry that pinpointing a death's exact moment was unfeasible. 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.

Both Woking borough council (WBC) and Surrey county council (SCC) have changed their policies since Winham’s death, the inquest has also heard.

Luke Addams, director of practice, assurance and safeguarding, at SCC told the inquest that someone from the council should have tried to visit Winham rather communicate with her by letter. An official from WBC 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 borough 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.