A HEARING into the conduct of a Suffolk health worker has been halted and is likely to now be held in the New Year.John Lovegrove, 44, who was a foot expert for NHS Suffolk, is charged with impaired fitness to practice and a case against him was heard by the Health Professions Council (HPC) earlier this week.

A HEARING into the conduct of a Suffolk health worker has been halted and is likely to now be held in the New Year.

John Lovegrove, 44, who was a foot expert for NHS Suffolk, is charged with impaired fitness to practice and a case against him was heard by the Health Professions Council (HPC) earlier this week.

The hearing was told that the chiropodist was found to have been looking at pornography websites while working at various trust sites, including the Woodbridge Health Centre, in Pytches Road.

The charge against him states that he accessed pornography on a Suffolk PCT - the former name for NHS Suffolk - computer between August and November 2007 and this was in contravention of the trust's internet use policy.

The hearing was halted after the fitness to practice panel learned of new information and decided it could not proceed. A fresh hearing in front of a new panel will now be arranged.

No date was given for the new hearing, although it is expected to be early next year.