Professor Bola Owolabi, NHS England’s director of healthcare inequalities improvement, has been named the Care Quality Commission’s new chief inspector of primary care. The appointment marks a significant move in the CQC’s ongoing leadership restructure, aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight across the health and care system.

Owolabi is widely recognised for her leadership on health inequalities, notably steering NHS England’s flagship “Core20PLUS5” programme to improve outcomes in underserved communities. Her move to the CQC will bring a strong clinical and equity-focused perspective to the regulator’s approach to primary and community care.

Professor Owolabi’s background includes shaping community health policy through national anticipatory care initiatives and serving as co-chair of the inequalities workstream for the government’s 10-Year Health Plan. At NHS England, she has been a visible advocate for integrating person-centred care and tackling structural disparities across the health service.

The CQC has confirmed that this appointment is the second of four newly established chief inspector roles, following the selection of Arun Chopra as chief inspector for mental health in March. The remaining positions, covering hospitals and adult social care and integrated care, are currently held on an interim basis as part of the CQC’s senior leadership overhaul.

Sir Julian Hartley, CQC chief executive, praised Professor Owolabi’s combination of national leadership, clinical insight, and commitment to equity, stating, “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.”
Professor Owolabi expressed her excitement for the new role, saying, “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.”

NHS England has yet to confirm whether it will recruit a new director for healthcare inequalities. For now, oversight of the agenda sits with David Probert, NHS England’s recently appointed deputy chief executive.

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