A Hampshire radiographer has been suspended after he performed X-rays on patients on Christmas Day while drunk.

John M Baker went to work at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, under the influence of alcohol, the Health Professions Council (HPC) found.

He carried out X-rays on two patients early on Christmas Day, 2006, before he was due to start his shifts.

Mr Baker admitted drinking three pints of beer over lunch immediately before work. He was suspended for six months.

The HPC conduct and competence committee, sitting in London, heard evidence that Mr Baker, who has been practising since 1989, had consumed "a lot" of drink on the previous day.

Panel chairman Paul Archer said: "The panel has concluded that this historical misconduct has the consequence that Mr Baker's fitness to practise is still impaired.

"The reason for this finding is that although Mr Baker has asserted - without any supporting evidence - that he is no longer abusing alcohol, he has not addressed the issue of the very significant lack of insight he demonstrated on the day in question by turning up to work intoxicated."

The HPC is an independent, UK-wide health regulator set up by the Health Professions Order (2001).

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