A nursing home matron gave brandy and champagne to a dying patient while denying others even a drop of water, an inquiry heard today.

Junia Woolgar, matron of Melrose Nursing Home in Worthing, told staff she had read research claiming it was more humane not to give fluids to terminally-ill patients, it was alleged.

But she made an exception to the rule for a patient with whom she had formed a close relationship, care assistant Trudy Gosling told the professional conduct committee of the UK Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

Miss Gosling told the committee in London that terminally-ill patients who were admitted to the home from a nearby hospice were "generally ignored completely".

But a patient whom Miss Woolgar had taken on outings was given brandy and champagne - even by syringe when her condition deteriorated.

Answering questions from council solicitor Miss Katrina Wingfield, Miss Gosling said other patients could be left for more than a week without fluids while they were given large amounts of sedatives by syringe.

She said she had also been concerned at the "horrendous bleeding" of one patient during a botched procedure to put in his catheter.

She said despite the bleeding, Miss Woolgar declined an offer to call a doctor.

Miss Woolgar denies seven charges of misconduct allegedly committed while she was matron and registered person-in-charge of the Melrose Home in 1997.

She is accused of administering controlled drugs to patients at the 38-bed home without prior written authority from a GP.

She is also said to have failed to maintain adequate records for seven patients and withheld fluids from a number of dying patients.

And she is accused of roughly handling two patients while fitting catheters, causing distress to three others and falsifying care notes.

The hearing continues.