In the ever-shifting landscape of primary care, many GP surgeries are facing real challenges: staffing shortages, financial pressures, missed targets, and mounting patient demand. When things start to unravel, the difference between collapse and recovery often comes down to one key role: the Practice Manager.
At The Practice Professionals, we’ve worked with numerous struggling practices undergoing transformation. What we’ve seen consistently is this: a strong, experienced Practice Manager is the cornerstone of any successful turnaround.
🏥 What Is a Turnaround Practice?
A “turnaround” practice is one that’s under significant strain. That might include:
- High staff turnover or conflict
- Poor patient access or satisfaction
- Missed QOF or IIF targets
- Negative CQC feedback or risk of inspection
- Financial mismanagement or unclear billing
- Systemic operational disorganisation
Often, these issues are interconnected—and without clear leadership, they spiral. That’s where a skilled Practice Manager becomes essential.
💼 Why the Practice Manager Role Is Critical
While GP partners are focused on clinical care, the Practice Manager is the engine room of the practice. In a turnaround setting, their impact becomes even more critical.
Here’s what the right person can bring:
🔧 Stabilisation of Operations
They quickly assess what’s broken—whether it’s rotas, payroll, repeat prescription workflows, or staff morale—and implement short-term fixes that bring immediate calm.
👥 Team Rebuilding
In practices suffering from internal conflict or exhaustion, the Practice Manager is the one who rebuilds trust, introduces structure, and creates a culture of accountability.
💰 Financial Control
A capable PM will restore clarity to billing, claims, and accounts. They’ll ensure Enhanced Services and ARRS roles are properly utilised and funded, and that income isn’t being lost.
📊 Regulatory Compliance
Whether it’s preparing for CQC inspection or addressing breaches, the PM ensures policies are up to date, audits are complete, and the surgery is on track.
🧭 Strategic Planning
A strong PM doesn’t just put out fires—they plan for long-term sustainability, working closely with PCNs, the ICB, and external advisers to align the practice with future goals.
⚠️ What Happens Without One?
In our experience, surgeries without a Practice Manager—or with the wrong one—tend to:
- Lose key staff due to burnout or disorganisation
- Miss deadlines for key submissions and income claims
- Face mounting complaints from patients and regulatory bodies
- Struggle to recruit due to reputational damage
- Risk CQC enforcement or even closure
Even well-meaning GP partners can’t carry this burden alone. Clinical leadership must be supported by strong operational expertise.
🧩 The Right Manager for the Job
Not every Practice Manager is suited to a turnaround environment. You need someone who is:
- Calm under pressure and solutions-focused
- Confident in HR, finance, and NHS systems
- Able to make decisions and get buy-in quickly
- Comfortable stepping into messy or unclear situations
- Skilled at conflict resolution and people management
These are rare traits—but at The Practice Professionals, we know where to find them.
🤝 How We Support Turnaround Practices
We work with practices in difficulty to provide:
- Experienced interim or locum Practice Managers ready to stabilise quickly
- Permanent recruitment tailored to your situation, not just a generic job spec
- Onboarding and advisory support, ensuring the manager is set up for success
- HR and policy consultancy, if needed, to support wider recovery
We don’t just fill a vacancy—we help rebuild a practice.
🩺 Turning Crisis Into Opportunity
Every struggling practice has potential. With the right leadership at the helm, even the most challenged settings can become high-performing, patient-focused, and financially sustainable. The Practice Manager is the key that unlocks that recovery.
If your practice is under pressure—or if you’re a manager experienced in turning things around—we’d love to help.