SansosPrimary care consultancy

A consultancy built from inside primary care

Sansos was founded on a simple observation: the visible problem in a GP practice - an inspection, a management vacancy, a backlog, a financial concern - is usually only one part of a much bigger picture. The work is understanding how the organisation really operates, identifying what is getting in the way, and helping people put systems in place that make it safer, stronger and easier to manage.

Where it started

Sansos grew out of more than twenty years spent inside the organisations it now helps. Since 2007, that has meant working as an independent CQC and compliance consultant - including for national names such as Specsavers and Boots, as well as primary care - alongside roles as a business manager, a systems designer and, at times, leading busy, multi-site GP practices. That breadth of experience shaped how the consultancy works: a recommendation only counts if it survives contact with a busy Monday morning in a real practice, from a consultant whose results speak for themselves.

Who it is for

Sansos works with GP partners, practice managers and primary care leaders who need to close the gap between policy and daily practice. Many practices do not need another generic report. They need experienced support to understand what is happening and help put it right.

Sansos exists to bridge the gap between strategy and implementation, compliance and daily practice.

Principles behind every engagement

  • Be honest about the position
  • Focus on the cause, not only the symptom
  • Prioritise what matters
  • Make recommendations practical
  • Support implementation
  • Treat people with respect
  • Use judgement, not a script
  • Leave systems that can be maintained

The team

Sansos is built around consultants who have worked inside the organisations they now advise. The team is growing - here is who leads it today.

Shabana Dehlavi

Shabana Dehlavi

Founding Consultant

Operations Efficiency &

Compliance Advisor

Shabana leads Operations Efficiency & Compliance at Sansos, working at the point where day-to-day operations meet regulatory compliance for the practices she advises. She diagnoses why processes break down, closes the governance gaps that sit inside routine work, and directs what needs to change so a practice runs efficiently and safely at the same time.

She has been a CQC and compliance consultant since 2007, with more than twenty years of experience across business management, regulatory compliance and organisational change.

Her work has included independent consultancy for national franchise organisations including Specsavers and Boots, helping franchise owners meet stringent compliance requirements, as well as leading busy, multi-site GP practices, national CQC speaking and training, and co-founding an independent CQC information platform.

She founded Sansos to bridge the gap between strategy and implementation in primary care, and also founded PolicyEase and Wellbeing de la Vie, the specialist services within it.

She is known for asking direct questions without looking for somebody to blame, focusing on the cause of a problem rather than only its symptom, and staying involved until a new system is actually working - not just recommended.

  • Since 2007 - CQC and compliance consultant
  • 20+ years - Operational and management experience
  • National - CQC speaking, training and consultancy
  • Independent consultant - Specsavers and Boots franchise compliance
  • Founder - PolicyEase
  • Founder - Wellbeing de la Vie
Kirsten Smith

Kirsten Smith

Associate

Crisis Communications

Kirsten leads Crisis Communications at Sansos, supporting GP practices when reputational pressure is at its highest - particularly following a CQC rating of Requires Improvement or Inadequate.

She brings senior-level experience in corporate communications, media relations and reputation management, working with practice leaders to develop clear, credible messaging for patients, staff, stakeholders and the wider community, and helping them communicate confidently during difficult and highly scrutinised periods.

Her approach is calm, practical and measured. The focus is not simply on managing the immediate response, but on protecting trust, supporting the practice's wider recovery plan and helping rebuild confidence as improvements are made.

  • Leads - Crisis Communications at Sansos
  • Senior-level - Corporate communications and media relations
  • Focus - Reputation management and recovery

Matthew Cheetham

Associate

Referral Systems &

Practice Operations

Matthew leads on referral systems and practice operations at Sansos, drawing on hands-on experience managing referral pathways, clinical coding and multi-site administrative teams inside NHS general practice.

He has worked across secretarial administration, patient care and business administration roles in primary care, including managing referrals through EMIS, Docman, ERS and Accurx, training staff on clinical systems, and overseeing rotas and administrative operations across multiple GP practices in Tameside and Bolton.

He has a track record of introducing more efficient processes - including implementing cloud-based workflow systems and new referral procedures - and of training and mentoring staff so that new systems are actually adopted, not just introduced.

  • Leads - Referral systems and practice operations at Sansos
  • Multi-site - Administrative management across Tameside and Bolton practices
  • Systems expert - EMIS, Docman, ERS and Accurx
Sarah Thompson

Sarah Thompson

Administration & Client Liaison

Sarah provides administrative and client support across the consultancy, helping to keep communication, appointments and day-to-day coordination running smoothly.

She helps with enquiries, meeting arrangements and practical follow-up, ensuring people know what is happening and what comes next. She works closely with Shabana and the wider associate team, providing the behind-the-scenes support that keeps projects organised and clients well looked after.

Approachable, organised and dependable, Sarah brings a calm and friendly manner to her work and is always happy to help with the practical details.

  • Provides - Administrative and client support across Sansos
  • Focus - Enquiries, scheduling and client coordination

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