A doctor has been suspended from practising for 10 months after a disciplinary panel found he viewed pornography at work and had an improper relationship with a patient.

The Medical Practitioners' Tribunal Service proved former Iwade Health Centre GP Michal Laska accessed explicit material between 2005 and 2010.

The hearing revealed the practice received an anonymous call on July 28, 2010, alleging Dr Laska was having an affair with a patient.

Several days later a USB drive from his desk was found to contain pornographic images.

Further investigations were undertaken into all computer material Dr Laska had access to at the surgery.

Thousands of images were discovered, many of which were cross-referenced between Dr Laska's roaming profile, the hard drive from his desktop computer and the practice server.

After the Kent Community NHS Trust received a report of the findings, an interview was held on November 11, 2010.

Dr Laska admitted accessing the sites between 2005 and 2007.

He said he stopped doing so as he believed it was "foolish", but forensic analysis contradicted his story as there were dates up to and including July 2010 where pornographic material was accessed using Dr Laska's practice computer and unique computer reference number.

The hearing also found he had an "improper emotional relationship" with a patient between March and July in 2010.

He insisted throughout the investigation that his relationship with the patient was one of friendship but admitted the pair met at his home, often late in the evening.

"accessing pornographic material at work, even if legal, could jeopardise a doctor's registration..." – dr peter jefferys

This was confirmed in a letter from the woman concerned who said she was going through a very upsetting time and just needed to talk to someone and to go somewhere "safe and quiet".

Despite this, no proof was found to suggest his conduct towards the patient was sexually motivated.

Panel members determined that Dr Laska's fitness to practice had been impaired.

As a result they felt it was necessary to suspend his registration for 10 months to protect the public interest.

Panel chairman Dr Peter Jefferys said: "This sends a signal to the doctor and the profession that accessing pornographic material at work, even if legal, could jeopardise a doctor's registration.

"In addition, it sends a clear message that professional boundaries between doctors and patients must be maintained.”