A HAMPSHIRE woman who wanted to go to rehab, died after years of alcohol and prescription drug addiction resulted in her death, an inquest heard.

Thirty-six-year-old Lorraine Palmer, 36, fell ill in April and could not eat any food without vomiting.

Addicted to alcohol, her brother Anthony Macklin-Palmer said she would get up and drink vodka and coke.

On April 28, while checking on her with older sister Teresa Jones, he found Lorraine kneeling on the floor, short of breath.

An ambulance was called, but after a battle to save her, she was pronounced dead.

Winchester Coroner’s Court heard how Ms Palmer, of Davis Field, New Milton, used the Inclusion drug and alcohol service and had not eaten for 13 days.

She visited a number of meeting meetings and workshops to try and become less alcohol dependant.

Her brother told the court she was even trying to go back to rehab, but was too ill to pursue this.

“Looking back on what happened, I wish we could have done more,” he said.

“A part of me thinks she was let down by society. I wish we could turn back time and I wish life was not so cruel.”

Gary Hutchings, area leader of the service, run by South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (SSSFT), said Lorraine did not give permission for this to happen.

“We did not have permission to share,” said Mr Hutchings. We did not even have the name of a next of kin.”

Questioning this, senior coroner Grahame Short said: “I find it incredible that (a next of kin) was not taken (during the assessment).”

Mr Hutchings responded: “The rest of the assessment was carried out. My understanding was that she would have been asked but she refused to give a name.”

The court heard that Ms Palmer was also dependant on drugs prescribed to treat her scoliosis.

Pathologist Dr Adrian Bateman said a toxicology report revealed the level of the codeine-like drug in her blood was 3.8mg per litre. He added: “This is high and in the range that has been related with fatalities in the past.”

However, Dr Bateman suggested that alcoholic ketoacidosis could have also played a part in her death.

He said this can occur from drinking a lot of alcohol over a short amount of time, adding that her chronic liver disease would have significantly contributed to this. Dr Bateman added: “I cannot say which would have caused death. I feel both would have contributed,” he added.

Mr Short recorded a conclusion of a drug and alcohol related death.

A spokesperson for SSSFT said added a full investigation had now been carried out.

He added: “We have already implemented a number of the resulting recommendations, including providing additional staff training. Work is ongoing to re-structure the service and colleagues are committed to ensuring effective, safe care is provided.”