Dr Toli Onon (BSc MD FRCOG) has been appointed as the Care Quality Commission's (CQC's) new Chief Inspector of Hospitals.
Dr Onon is currently Joint Chief Medical Officer and Responsible Officer at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT). She is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and combines her medical leadership responsibilities with frontline clinical work at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Manchester.
She has spent nearly 35 years working in the NHS hospitals sector and has played a key role in overseeing quality and patient safety improvement initiatives, as well as the professional regulation of MFT’s 2800 medical and dental staff.
Her appointment at CQC is the third of four 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 Toli will be joining us as Chief Inspector of Hospitals. She brings a wealth of professional and clinical leadership experience and a passion for driving tangible improvements that help deliver effective, safe and high-quality patient care.
"There’s a lot of important work ahead for CQC and as Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Toli will be pivotal in helping re-focus and shape our regulation of the hospital sector as we continue our journey to becoming the strong effective regulator people need and deserve.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Aidan Fowler for his invaluable support and executive leadership over the last three months. As Interim Chief Inspector Aidan has provided essential oversight of operational delivery across secondary care services.
Dr Toli Onon said:
I’m honoured to have been appointed as Chief Inspector of Hospitals. The regulator and providers are united in their desire to see the best possible care delivered for patients and service users. I know from personal experience what a challenging time this is for those leading and delivering hospital care, and I want to use that experience to help inform CQC’s regulation of these services.
“High-quality regulation that drives the continuous improvement of high-quality care is more important now than ever, if we are to give the public assurance and confidence about the services they rely upon.
“I am passionate about ensuring that people get compassionate, effective, timely care, and I am committed to working with CQC colleagues, providers, patients and other partners to achieve that.
Dr Onon is expected to join CQC later in the year.
