Professor Ted Baker will be CQC’s new Chief Inspector of Hospitals

Professor Ted Baker has been appointed as CQC’s new Chief Inspector of Hospitals and will take over the role from Professor Sir Mike Richards who is to retire at the end of July.

Professor Baker has been in his current role as Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals since January 2014, when he joined CQC to support the development and implementation of a new approach to hospital inspection which assessed services on whether they are safe, caring, effective, responsive and well-led.

Sir David Behan, CQC’s Chief Executive, said: "I am delighted that Ted will be taking on the role of Chief Inspector of Hospitals. He brings an invaluable track record of professional and clinical leadership and a wealth of experience from his time as Deputy Chief Inspector. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.

"I am incredibly grateful to Mike for his work and dedication in developing and leading an inspection programme that has provided a more complete picture than ever before of the quality of hospitals care. We are now able to use that knowledge to evolve our approach and help drive further improvement, while adapting to changes in the way services are being provided. I have every confidence in Ted’s ability to take this work forward."

Professor Ted Baker said: "Every day of my career in the NHS I have seen dedicated, committed staff providing excellent care for patients and service users. Our recent inspections have shown that even in undoubtedly challenging times, staff are making impressive improvements in the quality and safety of the care they deliver.

"As Chief Inspector of Hospitals I want to work with providers and other partners to build an environment where they can continue to drive improvements and make our healthcare system as good as it can possibly be. I do not underestimate the problems the system faces, but I have great confidence that the staff have all the qualities we need to overcome them."

Professor Sir Mike Richards, said: "I would like to congratulate Ted on his appointment to the role. He has been an integral member of the hospital team over the past four years, leading scheduled and responsive inspections across acute, community health, mental health and ambulance services in England. I am pleased to be handing the baton over to him next month and am certain of his ability to lead the next phase of hospital regulation, helping providers to drive improvement and ensuring that people receive good, safe care."

Chris Hopson, Chief Executive of NHS Providers, said: "Ted has a successful track record both in the provider sector and, more recently, as the CQC’s deputy chief inspector of hospitals. He understands what it takes to both run and improve complex clinical services as well as bringing proven regulatory expertise to a vital role. It is particularly helpful that he brings valuable continuity at a time of challenge and change in the NHS. Our best wishes and thanks go to Mike Richards for setting up the new inspection system so successfully."

Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health, said: "The Chief Inspector of Hospitals plays a crucial role in improving standards of care across the NHS. I’m delighted that Professor Baker will be bringing his many years of excellent NHS experience to this important role and I look forward to working closely together in the years to come to achieve our aim of making the NHS the safest healthcare system in the world."

Professor Baker will replace Professor Sir Mike Richards who is due to retire at the end of July. The appointment was made following open competition.

Prior to joining CQC, Professor Baker was in clinical practice for 35 years. He was Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust from 2010 to 2014 and Medical Director at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust from 2003 to 2010. He has held numerous other clinical and academic appointments both in the UK and abroad.

While he was at Oxford he chaired the first of the new CQC comprehensive inspections in September 2013 and led his trust through its own CQC inspection in 2014. While he was at both Oxford and Guy’s and St Thomas’ he led major service improvements and operational and strategic change on behalf of the trusts.

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