Chief Executive Of Care Quality Commission Resigns

Sir Julian Hartley, Chief Executive nan Care Quality Commission which is nan independent regulator of each wellness and big societal attraction services successful England, has resigned.

The announcement comes conscionable days aft an independent enquiry into maternity attraction astatine nan Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was announced.

Mr Hartley had antecedently spent a decade starring nan spot and said that successful ray of that inquiry, his domiciled astatine nan CQC, "has go incompatible pinch nan important conversations happening astir attraction astatine Leeds."

Some of nan families who received mediocre maternity attraction had demanded his resignation.

On Monday, nan Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced an independent enquiry into "repeated failures" astatine nan Leeds trust.

Mr Streeting said nan investigation would analyse what had "gone truthful catastrophically wrong" astatine nan trust's maternity services astatine some Leeds General Infirmary and St James' University Hospital.

Earlier this year, a BBC investigation revealed nan deaths of astatine slightest 56 babies and 2 mothers complete nan past 5 years whitethorn person been prevented. In a connection reacting to nan inquiry's announcement, nan spot said it was "taking important steps to reside improvements."

Several of nan families who had campaigned for nan enquiry had questioned Mr Hartley's domiciled astatine nan CQC fixed he had led nan spot for 10 years, until 2023.

He was appointed main executive of nan infirmary regulator past December having spent 21 months starring NHS Providers, a wellness work waste and acquisition body.

Mandip Singh Matharoo and Amarjit Kaur's girl Asees was stillborn successful January 2024 - a spot investigation recovered attraction issues which whitethorn person prevented her death.

They welcomed Mr Hartley's resignation and questioned his original appointment. "The truth that he was caput of Leeds school hospitals complete specified a ample play of time, wherever maternity attraction was substandard should person raised siren bells wrong nan strategy to forestall him becoming Chief Executive of specified a ample regulator successful nan first instance," they said.

A whistleblower astatine nan trust, who has raised concerns astir maternity, besides said they were pleased he'd gone. "Its been dire for galore years, including nether his watch. Him being nan caput of CQC was a ungraded erstwhile unit for illustration america person been complaining to nan regulator astir unsafe care. Things request to change," she said.

In his statement, Sir Julian said he was "sorry for nan truth that immoderate families suffered harm and nonaccomplishment during this time" and vowed to cooperate pinch nan enquiry "so families tin get nan transparency and answers that they request and deserve."

The chair of nan CQC Professor Sir Mike Richards said that while Mr Hartley's resignation was "a immense loss" he understood that his erstwhile occupation astatine Leeds "may undermine spot and assurance successful nan CQC's regulation."

On Monday, erstwhile nan enquiry was announced, some Mr Richards and Wes Streeting said they had assurance successful Sir Julian.

A accelerated reappraisal into maternity services successful England is presently underway while nan largest enquiry into maternity attraction successful nan history of nan NHS, centred connected services astatine nan Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, is owed to study adjacent summer.

The enquiry into attraction astatine Leeds is nan 5th investigation into maternity services astatine a azygous NHS since 2013.