A NURSE who a hearing was told repeatedly turned up for a night shift smelling of drink and incapable of work was suspended for 12 months.

A hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Council was told that Alison Brunt, 45, once arrived at the Westmorland General Hospital at Kendal by car 45 minutes late after telling colleagues she “couldn’t see”.

On other occasions she sported a black eye, swore at staff and ate patients’ food.

The smell of alcohol on her breath was so strong that a patient even reported it to management.

Brunt, who did not attend the London hearing, was found guilty of misconduct.

NMC chair Helen Mbakwe said: “On a number of occasions the registrant smelled of alcohol and a patient made a complaint to that effect.

"Furthermore there were occasions when the registrant acted inappropriately.”

Brunt faced being struck off the register but after hearing evidence from her colleagues that she was a good nurse, the panel decided to suspend her.

Ms Mbakwe added: “There have been no complaints about the registrant’s clinical skills and abilities. When there is a potentially good nurse, she should remain in practice.

“We have determined the registrant should be given an opportunity to overcome her drink problem and feel a suspension order is the appropriate sanction for the protection of the public.”

Adrianna McDonnell, for the NMC, said Brunt was suspended in 2006 by the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust.

The nurse, of Storth, denied turning up for work smelling of alcohol on three occasions that year, repor-ting for work when she was unfit to do so, eating patients’ food, failing to answer call bells or make beds and spending two hours decorating a wheel-chair.

She also denied acting inappropriately or appearing to be under the influence of alcohol, swearing loudly, offering recen-tly bereaved relatives drinks, and attempting to use the hoist for another patient while not in uniform.

Her case will be reviewed next year.