CQC · 26 May 2026 · 1 min read

CQC sets out which GP practices it will assess first

CQC has published its priorities for primary care assessments, including ratings over 7 years old and a focused programme for lower-risk practices.

01 / What's changed

CQC published how it is prioritising assessments in each sector on 26 May 2026. For primary care, priorities include services with urgent risk, high-risk services not yet assessed, services registered for a year or more without an assessment, follow-up after enforcement, and ratings older than 7 years.
Its Returning to Good and Outstanding programme, which started in March, runs focused assessments of lower-risk practices rated good or outstanding whose last report was published between 2017 and 2022.
Inspectors may switch to a full assessment if concerns come up.

GP practices in England, especially those with a rating more than 7 years old or a last report published from 2017 to 2022.

Check the date of your last published CQC report and work out whether you fall into one of the priority groups.
If you might be in the focused programme, review your evidence for the non-clinical areas CQC says it will look at.
Keep following CQC's current published guidance. CQC says this still applies until its new approach is introduced.
Do not expect a date in advance. CQC says it cannot tell individual services when they will be assessed.