DEFRA civil servant set for key CHAI role

The Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection looks likely to name a senior civil servant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as its new chief executive.

Anna Walker has been director general of land use and rural affairs at DEFRA since November 2001. Her responsibilities include controversial areas such as biodiversity and flood management.

However, it is her experience at the Department of Trade and Industry, before joining DEFRA, which is likely to have made her most attractive to the new inspectorate. From 1994-98, she was deputy director general at the Office of Telecommunications, before becoming director general at the DTI's energy division.

According to sources close to CHAI, Ms Walker has edged out the previous front-runner Ruth Carnall, head of the Department ofHealth's restructure. One source said he was very surprised by the time it was taking to make the appointment, given that the interviews had taken place over three weeks ago. He suggested the appointment was being examined 'at the highest levels within government'.

A CHAI spokesperson said the recruitment process was still underway and therefore could not comment on 'speculation'.

Ms Walker was unavailable for comment.

News of Ms Walker's likely appointment came as the only other person to have held the post gave his first interview since departing. Peter Homa was briefly appointed CHAI's chief inspector earlier this year, before a policy clash with chair Professor Sir Ian Kennedy over how far the new body should build on the model of its predecessor - the Commission for Health Improvement - forced him to quit (news, page 5, 17 April).

Mr Homa left his post as CHI chief executive to become chief executive of St George's Healthcare trust in south London two months ago.

Speaking to HSJ, he issued a heartfelt reminder to CHAI that it should make the most of the expertise of CHI's 350 staff.

Asked what legacy CHI would leave its successor, Mr Homa said: 'It will offer CHAI a wealth of experience in how to inspect NHS services, and some absolutely outstanding staff - hugely committed to helping improve patient care.'

He added that the involvement of CHI staff in the new regulator would be down to 'the judgement of CHAI', but added that they represented 'a huge, significant asset' and that 'the new enterprise would benefit from their commitment'.

The call comes as CHAI consults on its new corporate structure and draws close to naming its senior management team.

It will take on the role of CHI, as well as that of the National Care Standards Commission, from 1 April next year.

The new corporate structure envisages CHAI employing around 500 staff, more than the combined workforces of CHI and the NCSC.

However, a CHAI spokesman said it was involved in creating an organisation that was 'fit for purpose', and it would therefore be foolish to make a commitment to staff before that process was complete.

He added that CHAI hoped and expected to have completed the consultation before Christmas, and that staff would then have a clearer picture of the future shape of the organisation and what part they would play in it.

The interview with Mr Homa will appear in full in next week's HSJ.