Julian Hartley appointment

Sir Julian Hartley to be new CQC CEO in ‘vital’ move

Current NHS Providers CEO Sir Julian Hartley is set to join the Care Quality Commission as its new CEO in what health secretary Wes Streeting has described as a “vital” appointment.

The timings around the move are yet to be finalised, with interim arrangements still to be made at NHS Providers.

Hartley joined NHS Providers last February after being announced three months prior as the replacement for interim CEO and current deputy CEO Saffron Cordery. He joined from Leeds Teaching Hospitals where he had led for almost a decade.

Hartley’s experience includes various chief roles in the health service including at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals and at the old University Hospital of South Manchester, which now forms part of the biggest NHS trust in the country.

Comment from Wes Streeting, secretary of state for health and social care

Priorities

Hartley’s first port of call will be to win the trust of the public back after Dr Penny Dash’s interim report revealed several failings within the regulator, leading to the health secretary declaring it unfit for purpose.

"It is vitally important for NHS trusts, foundation trusts and the wider health and care sector to have effective regulation to support improvement and safe care for patients,” said Hartley. “This move will give me an opportunity to really focus on that goal.”

At the time of Dr Dash’s revelations in July, Hartley said that he and his organisation fully agreed with the recommendations and that “urgent reform” was needed.

The CQC outlined how it intended to rebuild trust last week, saying its actions will contribute to:

  • a clear and transparent programme of assessment and ratings;
  • quicker and more effective registration and assessment of providers; and
  • simpler and clearer reports.

Sir Julian Hartley

Reaction

On Hartley’s appointment, Streeting said: "I'm confident that Julian will provide the leadership staff in the CQC need to address this crisis, improve patient safety, and restore confidence in the regulator."

Hartley’s success was down to his “significant leadership experience” along with other contributions in the wider healthcare space, according to CQC chair, Ian Dilks, who led the recruitment process.

"CQC has much work to do to rebuild trust with the public, providers and with our own staff. We also await the findings and recommendations of the final review from Dr Penny Dash and of the review that we have commissioned from Professor Sir Mike Richards,” he said.

“However, I am confident that Sir Julian has the qualities and experience to lead the organisation through the challenges ahead and help to ensure that we make the right changes to become the strong effective regulator that people who use and work in health and social care services need and deserve."

Image credits: iStock & NHS Providers

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