Security Solutions Yes (SSY), based on Sprowston Road in Norwich, has been acquired by Dr Andrew Threadgold and rebranded as Hawthorne.

The firm specialises in CCTV, access control systems and fire and intruder alarms.

Security Solutions Yes (SSY), based on Sprowston Road in Norwich, has been acquired by Dr Andrew Threadgold and rebranded as Hawthorne (Image: Supplied)

Dr Threadgold was an NHS GP for over two decades.

But in 2011 he was investigated by the General Medical Council (GMC) after being referred to the regulator by a colleague for what he describes as an "admin issue" involving "inappropriately completing a cremation form".

He claims he came out of the 18-month investigation "unscathed" as the GMC "couldn't find enough evidence" to take further action, but he accepted a five‑year warning on his GMC record rather than contesting it at a hearing.

However, he said he "lost all love for the profession" and "vowed never to rely on medicine for my income ever again".

"Today, with my business partner Philip [Jordan], we operate multiple businesses across various sectors, from hospitality to property, security and healthcare, employing several dozen people," he said.

Dr Andrew Threadgold (Image: Supplied)

Dr Threadgold said together they work with angel investors, who provide capital in exchange for equity, allowing them to grow their property portfolios and businesses, while offering investors "excellent rates of return".

He said the acquisition and rebrand of SSY has "rebuilt its foundations to be based on ethical standards found in industries like medicine".

"We believe this allows us to stand out in a sector not known for its ethical principles, enhancing trust," he said.

“SSY built a strong operational foundation over two decades.

“Our aim now is to strengthen Hawthorne’s position in sectors where reliability, compliance and system resilience are essential, particularly in environments such as data centres where uptime is critical."

According to its website, SSY's existing clients include Porsche, Banham Poultry, MKM Building Supplies and Trend Marine.

Dr Threadgold has stated publicly that in 2011 he was investigated by the GMC, which regulates doctors and physicians in the UK, after being referred by a colleague for "inappropriately completing a cremation form".

He claims that the doctor who was meant to fill in the form for a patient who died in a care home "hadn’t turned up in over a week and the funeral was the next day".

While Dr Threadgold was at the funeral directors completing forms for one of his own patients, he said he was asked to fill in part of the cremation form as a favour to the undertaker, to avoid delaying the funeral for the grieving family.

After attempting to call the doctor, he decided to sign the form himself.

After surgery later that day, Dr Threadgold said he contacted the doctor again to explain what he had done, to which the doctor said: 'Why did you do my crem form? I was going to go over there tomorrow.'"

A fortnight later, he said he was contacted by the GMC to say that the colleague had reported him for signing the cremation form without "physically" speaking to the doctor before.

"This was strictly true, but there were good reasons," Dr Threadgold said in a public LinkedIn post explaining the situation.

"What followed was 18 months of abject misery.

"I was investigated extensively. My colleagues were interviewed. My records were scrutinised. My bank statements analysed. Previous crem forms pulled and scrutinised.

"The biggest, and most substantial worry during all this was how I was going to pay the bills.

"I was genuinely looking at jobs as a labourer on building sites, delivery driver, anything to be able to feed the family and pay the mortgage.

"In the end, 18 months and two to three stone lighter due to stress, I was told that the GMC couldn’t find enough evidence to do anything.

"It was from this that my entrepreneurial journey materialised."

There are no publicly available, official GMC documents about the investigation. All of the details are from Dr Threadgold's own accounts of the investigation, which he has posted about extensively on his own public social media accounts.

© Norwich Evening News