AC-2024-LON-001145 - [2025] EWHC 2075 (Admin)

In a “triage decision” dated 17 July 2019, the GMC decided not to investigate Dr Strommer on the basis that he had immediately retired from practise when the CQC suspended the registration. The GMC inferred from the timing of his retirement that he had reflected on the CQC decision and on the level of care he was able to offer.

In light of further information about Dr Strommer that the appellant’s solicitors provided at a later stage, the GMC reviewed that decision. In a further decision dated 1 April 2021, the GMC declined to change its decision not to investigate Dr Strommer. The reasons for adhering to the original decision were expressed by an Assistant Registrar as follows:

“I note that during our investigation into [the appellants], their representative provided us with further documentation. This included a copy of an appointment list (‘the Appointment List’) suggesting that Dr Strommer may have consulted with patients at the Practice on 1 November 2018. As regards the implication of this date, I note that on 9 May 2018, the CQC confirmed suspension of the Practice’s registration until 23 October 2018. I understand that the suspension was subsequently extended until 31 October 2018, the date when The Forest Group Practice ceased to be the caretaker practice at the premises. A new caretaker practice was then due to take over from 1 November 2018.

In my view, the Appointment List is not, in the absence of further information, new information which may have led to a different decision, had the decision maker been aware of it at the time. This is because I have not been provided with any information as to how Dr Strommer came to work at the premises on 1 November 2018, if in fact he did work there as suggested by the Appointment List. I.e., there is no information about who asked Dr Strommer to work there and why, and what if anything he was told about the current situation. I have therefore seen nothing to suggest that Dr Strommer:

• was aware that the Practice’s registration was still suspended as at 1 November 2018;

• knew that The Forest Group Practice had ceased to be the caretaker practice on 31 October 2018;

• knew that the new caretaker practice had not been able to take over on 1 November 2018 as envisaged.

For the reasons explained above, there is no information to indicate a fitness to practise concern in relation to Dr Strommer.”