A NURSE sacked from two nursing homes for misconduct - which included referring to patients as "a big fat lump" and "Winnie the Pooh" - was struck off by a disciplinary committee yesterday.

The UK Central Council for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting's professional conduct committee, sitting in London, had to remind Angela Mary Hodgson, 31, from Durham, that she was under oath while giving evidence after she claimed she could not recall the incidents.

She was found guilty of misconduct allegations relating to three separate incidents, between August 1999 and March 2000, two at the Whitfield Cottage nursing home, in North End, Durham, and one at the St Mary's private nursing home, in Church Chare, Chester-le-Street.

David Glendinning, for the council, told the committee she was dismissed from Whitfield Cottage in January 2000 after an internal disciplinary hearing found she had slept four to five hours on a shift.

On various dates and times she had called patients by insulting names. She had also failed to secure a drugs cabinet when leaving to assist another nurse.

Miss Hodgson cited personal reasons and severe tiredness from working as her main reasons for misconduct. She submitted references and correspondence from previous employers and colleagues.