Part 3: What I Wish I Knew Then
In the quiet moments since handing my contract over to an at-scale provider, I’ve had time to reflect — not on the chaos, but on the clarity that came after.
This isn’t a post-mortem. It’s a message for those still standing.
If you’re a GP Partner or Practice Manager reading this before your “two weeks’ notice” drops, then I’m writing this for you.
Because what I wish I knew then — more than anything — was this:
Prevention is not just better than cure. In this climate, it’s the only real protection you have.
🔍 1. The CQC Report Isn’t a Roadmap
An “Inadequate” rating doesn’t come with clear instructions. You get pages of ambiguity and months of uncertainty.
Prevention means you don’t have to waste precious time decoding criticism. You stay in control of the narrative — not reacting, but leading.
🧭 2. Governance Is the Root, Not the Branch
We scrambled to fix symptoms — access, documentation, patient feedback.
But the root issue? Governance. Or rather, the absence of it.
Strong governance isn’t just a framework — it’s a culture. It’s how you build resilience, delegate with confidence, and navigate inspection readiness every single day.
Prevention means embedding governance as a leadership practice, not a last-minute rescue mission.
💡 3. Prevention Requires a Plan — Not Just Passion
You care. I know you do. But care without a plan is what traps you in crisis cycles.
Prevention means taking the time to:
- Review your audits before someone else does.
- Run mock inspections with fresh eyes.
- Ask tough questions about what you’d rather not see.
It’s not pessimistic — it’s leadership.
🧠 4. Leadership Doesn’t Have to Be Reactive
In Primary Care, we wear firefighting like a badge of honour. But there’s no glory in burning out.
Prevention means choosing proactivity over panic. It’s making the decision to lead from the front — not from the shadows of “requires improvement.”
The partners and managers inside the CQC Confidence Community are proof that you don’t have to wait until it’s bad to get better.
🌱 5. Harmony Was Built for the Ones Who Lead Early
Harmony CQC wasn’t built for damage control.
It was created for those who ask: “What can we do now — while we’re still ahead?”
- It’s for the leaders who want clarity before the clipboard arrives.
- For the teams who want audits without anxiety.
- For the GPs and PMs who know that compliance is leadership — not admin.
💬 Final Thought
You don’t have to wait for the “Inadequate” stamp to take action.
You don’t need to hit a crisis to start building better systems.
Let’s make preparation the new panic.
Let’s make governance feel empowering — not exhausting.
Because those who lead early, last longer.
And in Primary Care, longevity is revolutionary.