A paranoid schizophrenic pensioner - who had overdosed on paracetamol 20 times and told police she wanted to be cared for in a home - died after self-harming.

Julia Wright was found on her blood soaked bed at her flat in Queens Road, Teddington, on July 3, last year, exactly a month after she cut herself for the first time.

Police were called to the earlier incident and Ms Wright had complained that she failed to meet care home criteria.

At her inquest, Police Sergeant Neill Povey told West London Coroner’s Court Ms Wright said she was having problems using the stairs to her second floor flat.

He said: “She felt stressed by things in her life and had no family members in the UK.

“She told officers that things at home got too much for her and she would like to be in a care home.

"She said the help she was receiving from Richmond mental health team was not enough.”

The court heard Ms Wright admitted herself to accident and emergency after she overdosed on paracetamol about 20 times between August 2010 and her death.

Despite the escalation in self harm, and concerns raised by a mental health worker, Ms Wright’s care programme – three visits a week from the mental health team and daily meals on wheels deliveries – remained the same.

The 73-year-old, a paranoid schizophrenic with obsessive compulsive disorder, was found dead after her food deliverer failed to get a response and raised the alarm.

Sgt Povey found Ms Wright lying on her bed, covered in blood, with a pair of scissors next to her. No suicide note was found.

Jonathan Beale, senior recovery support worker for Richmond outreach mental health team, saw Ms Wright the day before her death and said she appeared stable and he had no concerns for her mental state.

He told the court Ms Wright would rarely go out on her own and said he was shocked by her death.

A South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust spokesman said: “There was nothing detected in her presentation or behaviour that warranted increased concern.

“Her care team believed that a move to residential care was an appropriate next step to meet her needs. However, Mrs Wright had changed her mind about moving and wanted to stay in her current accommodation.

“The trust made a thorough investigation into this case and has taken the steps to ensure that that there is greater collaboration between clinical professionals and GPs.”

Richmond Council said no serious case review had been undertaken into the incident as they said there was no indication of serious errors.

The council said Ms Wright refused an offer to move into a care home and said the only way she could have been moved would have been to section her under the mental health act.

At the inquest on Wednesday, May 22, Coroner Elizabeth Pygott concluded Ms Wright died as a result of an act of self harm.

She said: “She undoubtedly cut herself and it resulted in her death but the intention I am completely unable to say whether on that occasion she intended to kill herself or not.”