11:39am Thursday 19th June 2008
By Hannah Williams
AN ELDERLY woman worried about moving into a home took a drugs overdose, an inquest heard.
Lilian Gomm, 84, of Forelands Way, Chesham, was discovered dead at home next to empty tablet packets, a jug of water and a glass.
John Spry, her nephew, told Amersham Coroner's Court that he had picked up his aunt from Mansil House, in Hervines Road, Amersham, where she had been living for a trial period.
He dropped her off at home in the morning of February 27.
He later discovered his aunt slumped in her chair in her living room at around 8pm.
He said: "I took hold of her right upper arm and shook her a little bit in order to wake her up. She felt stiff.
"I called my wife in to the room. She asked if she was dead and I said I think so'."
The inquest heard Mrs Gomm had been depressed at the time and had spoken about taking her life to her doctor and Mr Spry.
Mr Spry said: "While at the home she was talking about things getting on top of her and it would be better if she just did it."
Coroner Richard Hulett said: "On February 20 Mrs Gomm felt very low and had thoughts about taking her own life.
"A doctor went and saw Mrs Gomm and she said she wouldn't take an overdose because it might not work and leave her worse off.
"Her main concern was she was giving up her own home and this was causing her some anxiety."
A report by Dr Michael Turner, a consultant pathologist at Wycombe Hospital, showed Mrs Gomm's cause of death to be from an overdose of dextropropoxyene and paracetamol, causing respiratory depression.
Mr Hulett said: "She had taken out some tablets from an old prescription. She had taken out a number of these packets.
"The indication was she had sat in her chair and had taken the lot.
"I think she did that at the time against the background of her fears and worries, notwithstanding she was supported by a family but some people can't cope."
He returned a verdict that she had taken her own life.
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