Christian chiropodist accused of shunning gay patients and attempting to palm off HIV

'Failed to give a full assessment':Steve Hardie at the London Health Professions Council today

A Christian chiropodist asked a colleague to swap patients with him because he believed the HIV positive man was homosexual, a hearing heard today.

Steve Hardie is also accused of 'rude and obnoxious' behaviour towards two male patients he believed to be a gay couple, and of displaying bigotry towards one patient because he found him to be an 'effeminate man'.

A fitness to practise hearing heard that Hardie, who worked for Peterborough Community Services, treated a high-risk diabetic patient who had an ulcer on his foot in May 2005.

But he failed to give him a full assessment and gave him a follow-up appointment that was too far in the future to be 'in keeping with usual practice', the hearing heard.

Hardie later explained his actions to his line manager, Joanna Hood, by saying the patient was an 'effeminate man', the tribunal at London's Health Profession Council was told.

Vicky Lord, representing the council, said: 'Miss Hood was aware he didn't approve of homosexuality.

'He had quoted his Christian faith as a reason for his views.'

She added: 'He said he wanted to get him out of the clinic as quickly as possible.'

Hardie is also accused of walking out of a child protection training session in June 2006 because he believed the trainer had 'made passes' at him, including an incident where the man smiled at him with 'eyes twinkling'.

'The council says his feeling of being uncomfortable was down to the fact his colleague was homosexual and not as a result of any passes being made,' Miss Lord said.

'It was training he needed to complete and because of his attitude towards people of a different sexuality he declined to do so. That, the council says, is not acceptable.'

In a further incident, Hardie has admitted to refusing to go into a clinic in February 2007 with a work colleague because of the man's sexual orientation.

In August 2007, one patient, known as Patient B, complained that Hardie had been 'rude and obnoxious in his manner' and turned his back on him during an appointment.

Patients B and C had both booked separate 30-minute appointments, but he saw them both within 25 minutes, the hearing heard.

When challenged by Miss Hood, Hardie said he had noted the two men shared the same address but 'just did my job', and had not treated them any differently from other patients.

On another occasion, in June 2009, Hardie asked a colleague to swap a patient, known as Patient D, who was HIV positive.

When challenged, he said that 'everyone's beliefs were respected except his, and that Patient D's lifestyle was not in keeping with his beliefs because Patient D was "you know",' Miss Lord said.

'He thought that because he was HIV positive he was also gay.'

In a further allegation of misconduct, Hardie is said to have refused to declare to the trust that he was also undertaking private podiatry work in Peterborough.

The hearing continues.

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