AN occupational therapist has been suspended for a year after he used a workplace computer to visit sexually explicit websites.

The Conduct and Competence Committee of the Health Professions Council heard that Niall Salmon, a senior occupational therapist employed by Gateshead Primary Care Trust, used the computer to access the sites, then installed a programme to delete the evidence.

Mr Salmon, who also worked for Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, admitted the allegation.

Although accessing the websites concerned was not illegal, in the panel's view this activity was a serious abuse of the employers trust.

Christine Mills, chair of the Conduct and Competence Committee panel, said: "The panel concluded that Mr Salmon's fitness to practise is impaired. Mr Salmon had committed significant breaches of his employers' policy and had spent time accessing sexually explicit websites rather than attending to his work.

"The public would have reason to doubt his judgment and his fitness to practise as a health professional in the light of this misconduct."

The panel decided that a suspension from the Health Professions Council register for a period of one year would be the most appropriate sanction.