Preventative regulation: priorities for regulatory reform
27 Oct 2026
PSA’s Director of Policy Communications part chaired and spoke at the Westminster Health Forum conference on the future of professional regulation on 22 October 2026. In her presentation, Melanie Venables explored how regulatory reform could support a more preventative approach to regulation.
Regulation must move upstream
“Action should have been taken on the basis of concern or suspicion alone, rather than waiting for definitive proof.”
Thirlwall Inquiry, 2026
With concerns to regulators rising, the presentation considered how the regulatory system can make better use of complaints, concerns and other information to identify risks earlier, rather than waiting for problems to escalate. It argues for greater investment in supportive approaches, clearer and more consistent thresholds for regulatory action, and greater empowerment of professionals to use their judgement and speak up.
A central theme is the need for a shared understanding of risk. Effective regulatory cooperation requires not only information-sharing, but clear responsibility for coordinating action and ways of checking whether concerns have been assessed and acted upon.
The presentation proposes a shared risk framework built around five principles: listen, connect, assess, act and learn. Together, these could help regulators recognise wider patterns, focus on the risk of harm, respond at the right level and learn whether action has reduced that risk.
Ultimately, regulatory reform should enable regulators to work differently, not simply process existing work faster. Greater autonomy, strong accountability and a shared approach to risk could support regulation that is both more preventative and proportionate.
The key message: a shared risk framework can help the system see earlier, act together and learn faster.