5. Strategic collaboration

Strategy and communications

This will be managed pragmatically through ongoing conversations between relevant CQC/GMC teams, and a regular update will be provided to the joint working group.

Press and publications

The CQC and the GMC will endeavour to give each other adequate warning of, and sufficient information about, any planned public announcements on issues relevant to the other organisation. It is acknowledged that this may be challenging in some circumstances, such as where urgent enforcement is action required.

Each organisation will involve the other as early as possible in the development of planned announcements, including through sharing drafts of proposals and publications that may affect both regulators.

Each organisation will ensure wherever possible that the other receives:

• drafts of any planned publications with implications for specific healthcare providers approximately 48 hours before they are released to the media
• drafts of any press releases with implications for specific healthcare providers approximately 24 hours before they are released to the media.

The CQC and the GMC will respect the confidentiality of any documents shared in advance of publication and ensure that the content of those documents is not made public ahead of the planned publication date.

Evidence to parliamentary committees and central government

The CQC and the GMC will, where possible, share with each other details of evidence provided to any parliamentary committees in relation to the operation of the regulatory regime or the exercise of their functions. This should take place in line with standard rules on parliamentary hearings or engagements. As such, there may be occasions when one party is unable to share their evidence in advance of the hearing or engagement. 

Annex 2. Information sharing with the GMC