It has been announced that the first Chief Inspector of Hospitals is to be Professor Sir Mike Richards. The post was suggested by David Cameron following the Mid Staffordshire scandal. Richards will be responsible for ensuring that hospitals in England are delivering safe, compassionate, high-quality care. He has previously worked with the NHS in making significant improvements to NHS cancer care.
His main responsibilities include leading regional and specialist teams of inspectors to monitor hospitals performance alongside devising a new performance rating system for acute and mental health hospitals.
Don Berwick, the healthcare-adviser asked by Cameron to review patient safety in the NHS has said “It is crucial to the success of the chief inspector of hospitals that the inspector be trusted by clinical leaders, staff, and managers throughout the NHS. Mike Richards perfectly fits that bill; he is ideally equipped by background, achievements, and personality to engender trust between managers and clinicians.”
Future appointments are also expected for the Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and the Chief Inspector of Primary Care.
