CQC gets caretaker chair after ‘regrettable’ delay

An interim chair has been appointed to the Care Quality Commission, which has bemoaned a “regrettable” delay in recruiting a permanent successor.

Non-executive director Kay Boycott will take on the role from 1 June until 31 July unless a substantive chair is appointed earlier.

At Care Quality Commission’s board meeting on Wednesday, Ms Boycott said the new health secretary, James Murray, had not yet put forward his preferred candidate for the position. That person will also need to go before MPs at the Commons’ health and social care committee before appointment.

She said the continued delay was “regrettable”.

Sir Mike Richards announced he would be retiring in February, but at the time said he would stay until a replacement chair was in place.  

However, Ms Boycott said Sir Mike had decided to step down for “personal reasons” at the end of last month, after the process took longer than expected.

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Source: HSJ, 3 June 2026