A NURSE is to be further questioned after one of her patients died and others were allegedly mistreated.

The unnamed woman was a matron at a Worthing nursing home when a patient in her care died after allegedly being given an overdose of painkillers.

Other patients in her care were also mistreated, it has been alleged.

The woman was arrested following the death on November 23, 1997, but released due to lack of evidence.

But in a test ruling at London's Civil Appeal Court yesterday, three judges ruled transcripts of her police interview can be passed on to the nursing disciplinary body.

And the UK Central Council has pledged to investigate the allegations in full.

Lord Justice Kennedy said the confidentiality of police interviews could be overlooked in serious cases to protect the public.

The police were free, where they consider it appropriate, to disclose confidential information to professional disciplinary bodies.

The UKCC's Mandie Levin said later: "There is an important legal principle and a practical public safety issue at stake in this case.

"We have a duty to investigate allegations rigorously."

Richard Bernhard, the Royal College of Nursing's director of legal services, added: "This nurse wants her practice properly investigated by the UKCC."

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