England and Wales Case Law

Social Work England v Shingai Tutsirai Nyamapfene

The interim suspension order is extended for 14 months (to end of September 2026) because the allegations remain serious, the risk to the public persists, and the investigation is incomplete, but the court finds the delays unacceptable and expects the case to be concluded by then. The prejudice to the social worker does not yet outweigh the public interest, but this is likely the final extension barring exceptional circumstances.

Source excerpt

• Extension of interim suspension order
• Fitness to practise investigations
• Delay in disciplinary proceedings
• Public protection
• Procedural fairness

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Dentons UK And Middle East LLP v Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd

Dentons UK And Middle East LLP v Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd [2026] EWCA Civ 655 (21 May 2026)

The Court of Appeal held that the Solicitors Regulation Authority should pay 65% of Dentons’ costs on appeal, rejecting reliance on the SDT costs approach.

• Costs orders
• Appeals
• Solicitors' disciplinary proceedings
• Costs-orders
• Professional-regulation
• Solicitors-disciplinary-tribunal

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Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care v General Medical Council & Anor

The High Court dismissed the Professional Standards Authority’s appeal against a 12-month suspension imposed on a doctor for boundary-crossing and sexual misconduct with a vulnerable former patient.

• Fitness to practise
• Sanctions
• Sexual misconduct
• Vulnerable patients
• Appeals from regulatory tribunals
• Fitness-to-practise

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Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care v General Medical Council & Anor

Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care v General Medical Council & Anor [2026] EWHC 1138 (Admin) (19 May 2026)

The High Court dismissed the Professional Standards Authority’s appeal against a 12-month suspension imposed on a doctor for misconduct involving a vulnerable patient.

• Medical practitioner fitness to practise
• Sanctions for professional misconduct
• Appeals from regulatory tribunals
• Sexual misconduct and professional boundaries
• Vulnerable patients
• Public protection in healthcare

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Andrew Jonathan Davies v The Nursing and Midwifery Council

The High Court allowed a nurse’s appeal against NMC findings, holding the panel’s reasoning and evidential approach were unfair and procedurally irregular.

• Fitness to practise
• Procedural fairness
• Burden and standard of proof
• Assessment of evidence
• Disciplinary proceedings
• Fitness-to-practise

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Dr Premila Thampi v The General Medical Council

High Court appeal in a medical fitness-to-practise case. Impairment was upheld, but suspension was quashed and replaced with no further action.

• Fitness to practise
• Informed consent
• Professional misconduct
• Sanctions
• Proportionality
• Public interest

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Dentons UK and Middle East LLP v Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd

The Court of Appeal held that a breach of SRA Principle 7 and Outcome 7.5 requires conduct serious enough to amount to professional misconduct, not any regulatory breach.

• Solicitors regulation authority principles
• Money laundering regulations
• Professional misconduct
• Disciplinary proceedings
• Interpretation of regulatory rules
• Professional-regulation

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Grzelczak v General Dental Council

Grzelczak v General Dental Council [2026] EWHC 890 (Admin) (17 April 2026)

High Court appeal in a dental fitness-to-practise case. The court held that erasure was excessive and replaced it with a 6-month suspension.

• Fitness to practise
• Sanctions
• Racial misconduct
• Proportionality of sanctions
• Fitness-to-practise
• Professional-regulation

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Hanna Grzelczak v General Dental Council

The High Court allowed a dentist’s appeal against erasure by the GDC, substituting a 6-month suspension after finding the sanction was disproportionate.

• Fitness to practise
• Sanctions
• Racial misconduct
• Appeals procedure
• Fitness-to-practise
• Professional-sanctions

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Robert Clayton v Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors

The First-tier Tribunal dismissed Robert Clayton’s appeal against removal from the Approved Driving Instructors Register, finding he was not fit and proper.

• Removal from register
• Fitness and propriety
• Driving instructors
• Regulatory decision
• Appeal procedure
• Fitness-and-propriety

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