A workplace culture where people feel confident to raise concerns is one of the strongest indicators of good leadership and effective governance. Whether concerns relate to safety, quality, compliance, workplace behaviours or operational risks, employees should feel comfortable speaking up, knowing they will be listened to and supported.

The government has confirmed a further £200 million investment in GP practice premises as part of its new 10-Year Capital Plan for Health and Social Care, providing a welcome boost for primary care estates across England. The funding is intended to help practices expand and modernise their buildings, increase clinical capacity and create additional appointment space for patients.

The Care Quality Commission’s regulatory overhaul has been years in the making, but 2026 is the year the changes truly land in primary care. For GP surgeries, PCNs and ICSs, the new model represents a fundamental shift: from episodic inspections to continuous assessment, from process‑checking to patient experience, and from isolated practice oversight to system‑wide accountability. Our Primary Care Correspondent gives his take.