The chief executive of the Care Quality Commission has quit after the announcement of an independent inquiry into maternity failings at an NHS trust he led for a decade.
Sir Julian Hartley said staying in his current role was “incompatible” with the investigation into Leeds teaching hospitals NHS trust (LTH), which he led for 10 years until 2023, and said it could “undermine trust and confidence in the regulator”.
In a statement, he said: “This has been an incredibly difficult decision. However, I feel that my current role as chief executive of CQC has become incompatible with the important conversations happening about care at LTH, including during the time I was chief executive there.
“I am so sorry for the fact that some families suffered harm and loss during this time.”
On Monday, the health secretary, Wes Streeting, announced a “Nottingham-style independent inquiry” into maternity and neonatal services in Leeds after campaigning by parents, who said Hartley had questions to answer about what he knew as the trust’s chief executive.
Hartley, who took over as chief executive of the CQC, which regulates health and social care services in England, in December 2024, had been working to improve trust in the CQC after Streeting declared it “not fit for purpose” last year.
Streeting said the healthcare regulator was so badly run that patients in England could not trust the safety ratings it issued for hospitals, care homes or GP practices.
Sir Mike Richards, chair of the CQC, said Sir Julian’s departure was a “huge loss” to the organisation.
“I understand his concerns that his previous role at Leeds teaching hospital NHS trust may undermine trust and confidence in CQC’s regulation,” he said. “I am grateful to him for making this unselfish decision in recognition of the need for the regulator to be visibly held to the highest standards.”
Hartley said: “I will be giving whatever support I can to the inquiry into maternity services at Leeds, so families get the transparency and answers that they need and deserve – and I want to avoid my connection with the trust impacting on CQC’s work to rebuild people’s confidence in the regulator.”
The CQC said Dr Arun Chopra, its chief inspector of mental health, would act as interim chief executive until a permanent replacement was found.
