The Institute for General Practice Management (IGPM) will work with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to help practice managers develop or improve relationships with CQC inspectors, the former has confirmed.
In an announcement made on Thursday (8 July), the IGPM confirmed it would be working with the CQC as ‘the voice of practice management’.
Speaking to Management in Practice today (12 July), a spokesperson said the IGPM intends to have an ‘open and transparent relationship’ with the CQC, with a focus on supporting practices to develop good relationships with their inspector.
Jo Wadey, practice business manager at St Lawrence Surgery in West Sussex and an IGPM director, said this might involve supporting practice managers to feel as though they are acting appropriately according to CQC guidance.
The two organisations have committed to regular meetings and for the IGPM to become part of its GP working group, she confirmed, adding that the CQC is now able to signpost practice managers to the Institute for support.
She also said that this is expected to take effect within the next month, and that while the IGPM will only represent its members, she hopes it will impact all practices.
Vicki Wells, CQC deputy chief inspector, said practice managers play a ‘key role’ in general practice.
She added: ‘Their leadership has a significant impact on the ability of practice to deliver safe, effective and good quality care’.
Ms Wells also said that the CQC wants to ‘hear the voice of practice management’ in identifying the needs of general practice, and to allow managers to influence the implementation of its new strategy.
‘To help us do this we look forward to working closely with the IGPM,’ she said.
At the end of May, the CQC published its new 2021 regulation strategy which aims to give the public independent assurance about the quality of care in their area by assessing how well local health systems are working in addressing local challenges.
Meanwhile, the regulator last month announced it would begin sampling services to ensure its monitoring activity is consistent with evidence fathered by telephone or on-site.
