Dr Rosie Benneyworth, Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care announces departure and new role

Dr Rosie Benneyworth, CQC's Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care has announced she will be leaving CQC this summer to take up a new appointment as Chief Investigator at the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB).

Since joining CQC in 2019, Rosie has been responsible for CQC's broadest portfolio of services, helping to ensure that people have access to safe, high quality care in general practice, dentistry, secure settings, children's services and more.

As CQC responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rosie has been a steadfast advocate for people who use services while appreciating the pressures faced by providers – influencing the regulator's agile approach to regulation during these difficult times.

Drawing on her experience as a GP as well as roles in clinical leadership, commissioning, patient safety and encouraging innovation, Rosie has also been central to CQC's developing approach to reviewing care provided across the new Integrated Care Systems.

Alongside this, Rosie has progressed CQC's strategy commitments with a focus on addressing health inequalities and human rights. In the last two years Rosie has led work to understand how ethnic minority-led practices experience regulation. She also led CQC's review of the use of do Review of Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation decisions during the pandemic – successfully calling for a Ministerial Oversight Group to bring together key bodies responsible for delivering the recommendations.

Commenting on her announcement, Dr Benneyworth said: "Throughout my career I have been lucky to work with people who are committed to making sure that everyone gets the care that they need. I have seen this in both my colleagues at CQC and in the many dedicated providers that we regulate.

"Looking to the future, I think CQC can help the emerging Integrated Care Systems to develop truly person-focused services. Quality and safety needs to be at the heart of ICS development to ensure people get the health and care services they need in their local communities. We need to find new ways of working across the health and care system rapidly to meet the challenges we are facing now and in the future.

"In my new role at HSIB, I am looking forward to continuing to work with CQC to make sure that everyone gets safe, high quality care."

Ian Trenholm, Chief Executive of CQC, said: "I am immensely grateful to have worked with Rosie over the last three years, benefiting from her experience as both a frontline clinician and a leader. Her commitment to patient care, and understanding of designing and delivering good quality services, have been so valuable to the Executive Team.

"While I am sorry that Rosie is leaving us, I am delighted that she is going to such an important role – one which reflects her commitment to driving better care."

An announcement regarding interim arrangements will be made in due course.