CQC chief to chair trust with integrated GPs

Steve Field, chief inspector for general practice, primary medical services and integrated care for the CQC, has been appointed as chair of The Royal Wolverhampton Trust.

The trust runs eight GP practices in its area and is recognised as being one of the first trusts to launch a large-scale vertical integration model with primary care.

Dr Field, who used to be a practising GP for large scale primary care provider Modality, is set to leave the CQC this month. As well as leading on GP regulation, Dr Field headed up the CQC’s system reviews.

He will be joining Royal Wolverhampton in April , following the departure of current chair Jeremy Vanes, who has been in post for 13 years.

A sometimes controversial figure among GPs, prior to his role at the CQC Dr Field was chair of the Royal College of General Practice, and deputy medical director for NHS England.

In a statement, he said: “I was born in the Black Country and many of my family live locally. I am looking forward to supporting The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust to continue on their journey and I will work closely with partner organisations across the area to ensure the population of Wolverhampton and the Black Country receive the best possible integrated healthcare.”

David Loughton, chief executive for the trust, said: “Steve has a wealth of experience in numerous high-profile roles at a regional and national level; he will be a tremendous asset in the development of the Black Country Strategic Transformation Programme.”