Professor Bola Owolabi (MRCGP, MFPH Hon, FRSPH) has been appointed as the Care Quality Commission's (CQC's) new Chief Inspector of Primary and Community Services.
Professor Owolabi will be joining CQC from NHS England where she is currently Director of the National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme.
At NHS England, Professor Owolabi spearheaded the Core20PLUS5 approach – a quality improvement strategy to reduce healthcare inequalities at a national and system level. She also led on the Anticipatory Care workstream of the National Ageing Well Programme while National Speciality Advisor for Older People and Integrated Person-Centred Care at NHS England.
As Chief Inspector of Primary and Community Services, Professor Owolabi will lead on CQC's regulation of some of the most frequently used parts of the health and care system – including general practice and dentistry.
Her appointment is the second of 4 CQC Chief Inspector roles that will lead on regulation and improvement across mental health, hospitals, primary and community care, and adult social care and integrated care – marking a realignment of the organisation around sector expertise.
Commenting on the appointment, Sir Julian Hartley, Chief Executive of CQC, said: "I am delighted that Bola will be bringing her dedication to driving better care for people and improving services to the role of Chief Inspector of Primary and Community Services.
"As we rebuild and develop the way that we work as a regulator, there has never been a clearer need for the thoughtful balance of clinical expertise, national leadership and understanding that Bola has shown in her work as a general practitioner and Director of the National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme at NHS England.
"As a central part of a leadership team with oversight of health and care across England, the insight that Bola brings from her time working as National Speciality Advisor for Older People and Integrated Person-Centred Care at NHS England will also be invaluable to how we regulate across areas and systems."
Professor Bola Owolabi said: "I'm thrilled to be joining CQC at a time of such significant change for the organisation and as an Executive member of the Board, I look forward to playing a crucial role in shaping future direction.
"My passionate commitment to reducing inequalities in healthcare has guided my career, and I'm delighted that my new role will help independent regulation play a more central role in building a truly equitable health and care system that delivers for everyone, especially underserved communities.
"As a practising GP, I'll be drawing on personal experience to help ensure that CQC's regulation supports primary medical services to provide the best possible care for people. My work on improving integrated person-centred care has also given me a real understanding of the opportunities presented by community services to improve lives and help people get well and stay well.
"The 10-Year Health Plan presents a once in a generation opportunity to translate vision and ambition into the lived experience of our patients and the public. Having co-chaired one of the vision workstreams of the Plan, I am excited to now work with colleagues at the front-line to ensure that the experience of people who use services matches the ambitions of the 10-Year Health Plan."
Professor Bola Owolabi will join CQC in the summer. She will combine her role with her work as a practising GP in the Midlands.
