A nurse failed to treat a seven-year-old boy as he suffered a potentially fatal reaction to a nut allergy, a disciplinary hearing was told yesterday.

Pauline Green was on duty at Uckfield Community Hospital when the child was rushed into the minor injuries unit by his mother.

He had fallen ill after eating a chocolate-covered Brazil nut at his home in Buxted, near Crowborough.

His mother, a qualified nurse, feared he was suffering anaphylatic shock.

But, as the boy's condition deteriorated, Mrs Green failed to adequately examine him or spot the tell-tale signs of the condition, the UKCC heard.

Instead she sent the mother, referred to as Mrs A, and her son to their GP who immediately diagnosed the reaction and gave the boy emergency adrenaline.

In evidence, Mrs A said her son complained of breathing difficulties after eating the nut on August 10, 1999.

She took him to the hospital where she found Mrs Green in the otherwise deserted unit.

She told the nurse her son's condition was deteriorating but said: "She seemed annoyed."

Mrs A said she cuddled her ill son while the nurse remained seated.

Eventually Mrs Green gave the boy a quick examination but ignored the fact his eyes were bloodshot and his face was swelling up and did not check his pulse or temperature.

Mrs A said the nurse went to call the family GP and told her to take her son to the doctor's surgery.

Tests later revealed the boy had a nut allergy.

Mrs Green, who has 36 years' experience, denies four allegations, including failing to adequately observe a patient, failing to adequately report symptoms and treatment, failing to provide appropriate treatment and failing to respond to his mother's concerns in a caring manner.

She told the hearing the boy was walking without difficulty and she thought he had hurt his throat on the nut.

She saw no swelling to his face or bloodshot eyes and had not taken "baseline observations" because it was best he go straight to his GP.

It would have been unwise to give him adrenaline because she did not think he was suffering anaphylatic shock.

She said the mother told her the boy had eaten nuts before without suffering side effects.

She apologised for her behaviour towards Mrs A. She said: "Maybe I was trying to be officious to find out what had happened. I may have sounded a little brusque. It was not intentional."

Dru Sharpling, for the UKCC, said Mrs Green should have been aware of the signs of anaphylatic shock, having gone on a relevant course six months before.

Susan Adams, a colleague of Mrs Green, investigated her conduct following the complaint and felt she had "misdiagnosed the anaphylaxis entirely".

She said she was alarmed to discover Mrs Green had not examined the boy properly.

Mrs Green, who has been suspended from the hospital while her conduct was investigated, retired from nursing last year on health grounds.

The case was adjourned until after Easter.