In this monthly report, FPM looks in detail at what the CQC have publicly reported from their GP practice inspections during July 2026, all anonymised. We highlight some of the behaviours that won practices Outstanding ratings, and the reasons some practices were scored Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. Do you recognise any of the observations the CQC picked up, either good or bad?

This month’s developments across the NHS feel strangely familiar: major reports, stark findings, bold commitments — and the lingering question of whether anything will genuinely change. For those of us who have spent years in NHS management and primary care, the Covid Inquiry’s Section 5 findings read less like revelations and more like a formal acknowledgement of what the service has been saying for years.

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.