A “BROKEN hearted” nurse who took drugs from hospital and fashioned a makeshift drip was found dead in her bed after failing to turn up for work.

Cynthia Jones, who preferred to be known as Elizabeth or Liz, was found dead at home in Lovett Green, Salisbury on May 23.

The 49-year-old was found at about 3pm, with a plastic tube running from a bottle of drugs into her arm, an inquest heard on Wednesday.

Coroner David Ridley said a statement from Ms Jones’s GP showed nothing relating to any mental health issues in her medical history.

But one of Ms Jones’s close friends, Diane Grahame gave evidence at the inquest about the last afternoon that Ms Jones was seen, and said she was “very upset”, adding: “In 17 years I’ve never seen Elizabeth cry before.”

The pair had been to look at a new car for Ms Jones in Downton, before going to Ms Grahame’s to “watch movies under a blanket with cups of tea”.

But Ms Grahame said her friend “became more and more quiet and depressed” and that she was tearful.

She said Ms Jones had been upset about the breakdown of a 15-year on-off relationship she had been having with “the love of her life”, a man who was married, as well as upcoming disciplinary procedures at work, health problems and the death of her younger brother earlier that year.

“She was broken hearted,” Ms Grahame said.

Ms Grahame said on that day, April 20, Ms Jones was “almost shutting down”.

Ms Jones went to work at her job as a critical care nurse at Royal Bournemouth Hospital that evening, but colleagues said she gave “no inkling” of having suicidal thoughts. Mr Ridley said he believed she may have used the opportunity to steal drugs.

Welfare concerns were reported to police three days later, after Ms Jones failed to turn up for work and friends were unable to contact her.

A toxicology report showed Ms Jones had taken Propofol, a relaxant used alongside anaesthetic, resulting in loss of consciousness.

Mr Ridley said that using the drug without medical supervision could result in an irregular heartbeat or slowed breathing. He recorded a conclusion of suicide.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit samaritans.org.