A matron gave painkilling drugs to dying patients in a nursing home without the authority of their GPs, an inquiry heard yesterday.

Junia Woolgar also told staff at the Melrose Home in Worthing not to give liquids to the terminally ill patients because it would not do them any good, it was alleged.

Katrina Wingfield, solicitor to the UK Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) told its professional conduct committee West Sussex health inspectors had "raided" the home.

Staff told them Miss Woolgar had caused pain and distress to a patient when changing his catheter.

She had roughly handled another patient, who had cancer, they said.

Miss Wingfield said Miss Woolgar had caused three terminally ill patients distress between 1992 and 1997.

Miss Wingfield claimed 13 patients at the home had been given diamorphine and other controlled drugs without a GP's authority between January and November 1997.

Miss Woolgar had also failed to maintain the care records of seven patients.

She denies these accusations and falsifying a patient's notes.

The hearing continues.