Published by PCMS | March 2026
The CQC has just announced a significant new programme that will affect thousands of GP practices across England and if your practice hasn’t been inspected since before 2022, this one is for you.
Here’s what’s happening, what it means in practice, and as always what you should be doing about it.
What Is the “Returning to Good and Outstanding” Programme?
On 25 March 2026, the CQC confirmed the launch of a new focused assessment programme called “Returning to Good and Outstanding.”
Starting this month, the CQC will begin a series of targeted assessments of lower-risk GP practices that have held a Good or Outstanding rating but haven’t been inspected for several years. This sits alongside their usual inspection activity , it’s not a replacement, but an additional layer of regulatory oversight.
In plain terms: the CQC is coming back for practices it hasn’t visited in a while.
Which Practices Are in Scope?
Your practice is likely to be targeted if it meets all four of the following criteria:
- Currently holds a Good or Outstanding CQC rating
- Last inspection report was published between 2017 and 2022
- Is considered lower risk by the CQC
- Has no ongoing regulatory activity and is not dormant
If that sounds like your practice, don’t assume your existing rating will protect you. A lot has changed since 2017 in your practice, in your team, and in what the CQC expects to see.
What Will These Assessments Actually Involve?
These are streamlined, focused assessments, not full inspections. But don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security.
Here’s what to expect:
- 10 non-clinical quality statements will be assessed
- A site visit will take place ,inspectors will be on your premises
- You’ll receive at least 5 working days’ notice (not much time if you’re not already prepared)
- No GP Specialist Advisor will be routinely involved
That last point is worth noting. The CQC has been clear that if concerns are identified during the assessment or if a positive escalation is needed , they will escalate to a full inspection, with GP Specialist Advisors brought in. A focused assessment can quickly become something much bigger.
Why Is the CQC Doing This Now?
As we explored in our previous blog, CQC’s Latest Consultation: Changing the Goalposts (Again), the CQC has been under significant pressure to demonstrate that it is a credible, active regulator.
The reality is that many GP practices rated Good or Outstanding in 2017, 2018, or 2019 have never been reinspected under the Single Assessment Framework. That’s a gap of up to nine years without formal regulatory contact. The CQC knows this is unsustainable and this programme is their response.
It’s also worth remembering that the CQC’s own sponsor department raised “serious concerns” about the regulator’s ability to identify and respond to risk. This programme is, in part, the CQC’s attempt to demonstrate it is back in control.
The Risk for Practices That Aren’t Prepared
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: a Good rating from 2019 does not reflect your practice today.
Since then, you may have had:
- Changes in clinical and managerial leadership
- Significant staff turnover
- New digital systems and patient access models
- Post-pandemic service redesign
- Changes to your patient population and demand profile
The CQC will be assessing your practice as it is now , not as it was when you last received your rating. If your governance, documentation, and processes haven’t kept pace, that gap will be visible.
And with only five working days’ notice, there is very little time to scramble.
What Should You Be Doing Right Now?
Whether you’re in scope for this programme or not, this is a timely reminder that inspection readiness is not a one-off event ,it’s an ongoing commitment.
Here’s where to start:
Review your last CQC report — have all previous recommendations been addressed and evidenced?
Audit your governance structures — are your meetings documented, your leads identified, and your oversight mechanisms functioning?
Check your policies — are they up to date, staff-aware, and actually followed? (A policy no one uses is worse than no policy at all.)
Look at your patient experience data — what would the CQC see if they reviewed your Friends & Family Test results, complaints, and access data?
Walk through your practice as an inspector would — what would they find if they arrived tomorrow?
If you’re not confident in the answers to those questions, now is the time to act.
How PCMS Can Help
At Primary Care Management Solutions (PCMS), we’ve supported GP practices, PCNs, federations, and independent healthcare organisations through every version of CQC inspection ,from the original KLOEs to the Single Assessment Framework, and everything in between.
We know what inspectors look for. We know what good evidence looks like. And we know how to help practices get there quickly, practically, and without the panic.
Our services include:
- Mock CQC Inspections — see your practice through an inspector’s eyes before they do
- Ongoing Compliance Packages — stay inspection-ready year-round, not just when a visit is imminent
- Emergency Compliance Support — if you’ve received a concerning rating or regulatory contact, we’ll help you respond
- Bespoke Policies & Protocols — functional, practice-specific documentation that actually reflects how you work
- Staff Training — from SAF awareness to CQC interview preparation
Don’t wait for the letter. Get ahead of it.
Call us: 08444 781 444
WhatsApp: 07888 645 888
Email: info@pcmsolutions.co.uk
Learn more: pcmsolutions.co.uk/solutions/cqc
PCMS — Confident. Compliant. Inspection-Ready.