John Marie McCann was struck off after he was caught browsing websites such as “Big Boob Show” “Busty Japanese Girls” and “German Lesbians, Very Hot” at Dunoon Hospital in September 2010.
McCann’s online activities caused slow internet access throughout the hospital, including in the X-ray department and video conferencing.
The nurse, who, ironically, worked with an addictions team, left his office in a “state of disarray,” with dozens of unopened patient referrals.
At a hearing of the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) earlier this week, he was barred from the profession.
Charges of accessing sexually explicit material, and failing to open letters marked as GP referrals were found proved.
The NMC panel said staff had complained of slow internet connections earlier in the year, with the X-ray department and video conferencing affected.
The NMC panel said: “Slow internet connections were very noticeable approximately two weeks before 9 September 2010 and a detailed investigation using specialist software was undertaken.”
IT experts were able to trace the source of the computer problems.
The panel continued: “Remote access software was used to locate the offending PC. The offending PC was identified as McCann’s NHS laptop.
“Mr McCann was suspended on 9 September 2010.
“After Mr McCann’s suspension his office was accessed to retrieve patient files and concerns were raised regarding the security of confidential patient files.”
NHS IT manager Stephen Morrow told the hearing in Edinburgh: “Upon accessing this computer remotely I immediately could see the true cause of the problem that had been occurring that particular morning.
“The aforementioned IP address was in the process of streaming video from the internet.
“The content of this video was sexually explicit pornographic material.”
He said he found “hundreds” of files of sexually explicit material on the computer dating back to March 2010, though McCann had tried to delete them.
When asked what kind of files he found Mr Morrow replied: “busty Japanese girls,” “big boob show” and “German Lesbians, very hot.”
Some of the other titles Mr Morrow read off were not audible at the hearing.
Mr Morrow first asked the NMC’s case presenter if he had to read the names in full.
After inspecting his office, NHS staff found it in a “state of disarray,” the panel said.
The NMC panel said: “The panel accepts the evidence that within eight boxes of documents removed from Mr McCann’s office there were about 138 unopened letters.
“Of these, 59 were unopened GP referrals to his services dating back to 2004.”
A charge that he failed to secure patient records was found not proved by the panel.
McCann was not present and was unrepresented at the hearing.
But he submitted a letter to the NMC saying “I do not feel that I am currently fit to work as a registered nurse and even if I were to become so in the future I feel strongly that I have negated the right to do so.”
Announcing its decision, the NMC panel said: “Patients must be able to trust their nurses, in particular that they will open GP referral letters and ensure that they have appropriate access to the necessary services.
“Mr McCann’s conduct in both charges had the potential to cause significant patient harm both to his own patients and those referred to his services.
“Mr McCann neglected the care of his patients by electing to view sexually explicit material during working hours.
“His actions disrupted the hospitals system, potentially causing harm by preventing patients in other departments from receiving timely and appropriate care.”
