The Chief Inspector of Hospitals Professor Sir Mike Richards has been awarded a lifetime achievement award for services to cancer during a career spanning more than 30 years.
Sir Mike was presented with his award at the National Cancer Research Institute cancer conference in Liverpool this morning by Cancer Research UK.
In July 2013, Sir Mike joined the Care Quality Commission as Chief Inspector of Hospitals.
In 1999, he was appointed as the first National Cancer Director at the Department of Health. In this role he led the development of the NHS cancer plan (2000) – the first comprehensive strategy to tackle cancer in England and was then responsible for overseeing its implementation.
In 2001, he helped to establish the National Cancer Research Institute and was Chair of the Board between 2006 and 2008. He also helped to establish the National Cancer Intelligence Network (2008) and has also chaired the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership.
Sir Mike was previously a consultant medical oncologist at Guy's Hospital specialising in breast cancer (1986 – 1995) and Sainsbury Professor of Palliative Medicine at St Thomas' Hospital (1995-1999).
