First Practice Management

🏥 £200 million confirmed for GP premises upgrades

The Government has announced an additional £200 million investment to help GP practices expand and modernise their premises, creating more clinical space and supporting increased patient demand.

For practice managers, now is the time to review estate needs, identify capacity challenges and start preparing for future funding opportunities.

Read our latest blog to find out what this could mean for your practice:
🔗https://loom.ly/xhZofNg

Have you seen our latest FPM Core document library updates? They include:

Legionella - Management, Testing & Investigation Policy
Locum Agreement
Summarising Patients' Notes Procedure
Whistleblowing Policy
Newly created: GP Practice Prioritised Estates Improvement Plan Template, and GP Premises Improvement Fund Outline Business Case Template

Our comprehensive library of policies, procedures, templates and job descriptions on FPM Core is updated regularly – click here to view the latest updates: https://loom.ly/gCj2aS8

July has been another busy month in primary care.

Across practices, teams have continued to manage high demand, navigate staffing pressures and keep services running through the summer period.

It’s a good moment to pause and reflect.

What’s worked well?
What could make things easier going into the next few months?

Taking stock now can help set a stronger foundation for the rest of the year.

A small reminder for busy practices this summer.

Staying on top of the basics can make a big difference. Keeping policies up to date and making sure your team knows where to find key information is beneficial.

It sounds simple, but these are the things that often make inspections and day-to-day management run more smoothly.

If you need support, having the right tools and training in place can help:
👉 Explore FPM Core compliance software: https://loom.ly/SiPm0VM

Pharmacies are becoming a bigger part of frontline care.

Since the advent of Pharmacy First, more patients are getting treatment for common conditions directly from their local pharmacy, often more quickly and conveniently.

And this is only the start.

With independent prescribing expanding later in 2026, pharmacies will play an even greater role in improving access and easing pressure on GP practices.

For practices, it’s a shift worth watching.

Find out more here:
👉 https://loom.ly/rQRDbqg

NHS staffing is rarely as simple as the headlines suggest.

Across the system, pressures don’t stay in one place. When challenges hit hospitals or community services, they often flow straight into general practice.

Industrial action, workforce shortages and wider system pressures all have a knock-on effect, increasing demand and shifting work into GP practices.

It’s a complex picture, and one that many teams are feeling every day.

Understanding what’s happening across the system can help practices plan, prioritise and manage expectations.

Read the full article here:
👉 https://loom.ly/zGrfJF0

Summer doesn’t always mean things slow down in primary care.

Holiday cover, reduced staffing and ongoing demand can quickly add pressure to already busy teams.

Planning ahead, from rotas to responsibilities, can make all the difference.

That’s where the right support can help. From compliance and HR advice to recruitment consultancy, having everything in one place can ease the pressure and keep things running smoothly.

Explore how FPM can support your practice:
👉 https://loom.ly/9MKsyLU

The CQC has started piloting its new assessment approach across health and care services.

From June to October, selected providers will take part in testing the new method alongside existing inspections, helping shape how future assessments will work in practice.

A few key points to be aware of:
• Pilots run alongside current inspections
• Participation is voluntary
• Pilot ratings will not affect your current rating or regulatory status
• Feedback from providers will help refine the final approach

The aim is to create a clearer, more consistent framework so providers better understand how judgements are made.

For practices, this is a good time to stay informed and start thinking about how future changes could impact your approach to compliance and evidence.

You can read the full update here: https://loom.ly/FHhy4V8
👉

Plastic Free July is here. 🌍

It’s a good opportunity to take a step back and look at where small changes can make a difference across your practice.

In healthcare settings, it’s not always easy to reduce waste. But even simple shifts, like reviewing ordering, cutting unnecessary packaging or switching to reusable options where possible, can add up over time. ♻️

It doesn’t have to be all at once. Small, consistent changes can still have a real impact.

Are your policies actually being used… or just stored?

Having the right policies in place is one thing, but making sure your team understands and uses them day to day is what really matters.

That’s where having everything in one place can make a real difference. Platforms like FPM Core bring your policies, procedures and evidence together, making it easier to share updates and track engagement.

It means less time chasing paperwork and more confidence that everyone is working in line with current guidance and expectations.

👉 Find out more:
https://loom.ly/SiPm0VM