Chief Executive Of Care Quality Commission Steps Down Over Inquiry Into Nhs Trust

The main executive of nan Care Quality Commission has discontinue aft nan announcement of an independent enquiry into maternity failings astatine an NHS spot he led for a decade.

Sir Julian Hartley said staying successful his existent domiciled was “incompatible” pinch nan investigation into Leeds school hospitals NHS spot (LTH) which he led for 10 years until 2023, and raised concerns it could “undermine spot and assurance successful nan regulator”.

In a statement, he said: “This has been an incredibly difficult decision. However, I consciousness that my existent domiciled arsenic main executive of CQC has go incompatible pinch nan important conversations happening astir attraction astatine LTH, including during nan clip I was main executive there.

“I americium truthful sorry for nan truth that immoderate families suffered harm and nonaccomplishment during this time.”

On Monday, nan wellness caput announced a “Nottingham-style independent inquiry” into maternity and neonatal services successful Leeds aft campaigning by parents, who said Sir Julian had questions to reply astir what he knew arsenic nan trust’s main executive.

Hartley, who took complete arsenic main executive of nan CQC, which regulates each wellness and societal attraction services successful England, successful December 2024, had been moving to amended spot successful nan CQC aft Wes Streeting declared it “not fresh for purpose” past year.

Streeting said nan healthcare regulator was truthful severely tally that patients successful England could not spot nan information ratings it issued for hospitals, attraction homes aliases GP practices.

Sir Mike Richards, chair of CQC, said Sir Julian’s departure was a “huge loss” to nan organisation.

“I understand his concerns that his erstwhile domiciled astatine Leeds school infirmary NHS spot whitethorn undermine spot and assurance successful CQC’s regulation,” he said. “I americium grateful to him for making this unselfish determination successful nickname of nan request for nan regulator to beryllium visibly held to nan highest standards.”

Sir Julian said: “I will beryllium giving immoderate support I tin to nan enquiry into maternity services astatine Leeds, truthful families get nan transparency and answers that they request and merit – and I want to debar my relationship pinch nan spot impacting connected CQC’s activity to rebuild people’s assurance successful nan regulator.

The CQC said Dr Arun Chopra, its main inspector of intelligence health, would enactment arsenic interim main executive until a imperishable replacement is found.