Dr Arun Chopra

Who Dr Arun Chopra is

Dr Arun Chopra joined the Care Quality Commission in March 2025 as its first Chief Inspector of Mental Health, a newly created specialist role recognising the need for dedicated regulatory expertise in mental health services. In October 2025 he assumed the role of Interim Chief Executive following the immediate departure of Sir Julian Hartley, pending appointment of a permanent successor. Before joining CQC he served as Medical Director of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (2020–2024), a statutory body safeguarding the rights of people with mental illness, learning disability and dementia, and has held NHS consultant psychiatrist posts in general adult community and inpatient settings in England, New Zealand and Scotland. He has contributed to mental health law reform for England, Wales and Scotland, and is a recipient of the President's Medal of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, awarded for significant contribution to improving the lives of people with mental illness.

References for this biography

1. 1.Dr Arun Chopra – Care Quality Commission executive team page — Confirms role as first Chief Inspector of Mental Health, prior role as Medical Director of Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (2020–2024), and NHS consultant psychiatrist background.
2. 2.Dr Arun Chopra appointed as CQC's first Chief Inspector of Mental Health – CQC press release — Confirms appointment, start date (May 2025 announced, March 2025 actual start per later release), President's Medal, and contribution to mental health law reform.
3. 3.Dr Arun Chopra assumes role of Interim Chief Executive of CQC – CQC press release — Confirms assumption of Interim Chief Executive role in October 2025, with Chris Dzikiti stepping in as Interim Chief Inspector of Mental Health.
4. 4.Our media office – Care Quality Commission — Provides organisational press office contact details including email and phone number.
5. 5.An introduction to Dr Arun Chopra and reflections on the power of community in mental health care – CQC Medium blog — Confirms frontline clinical psychiatry background and contribution to mental health law reform for England, Wales and Scotland, in Chopra's own words.

Notable achievements

• Appointed as CQC's first ever Chief Inspector of Mental Health in March 2025, the first of four new specialist chief inspector roles at the regulator. Source ↗
• Recipient of the President's Medal of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, awarded annually for significant contribution to improving the lives of people with mental illness. Source ↗
• Assumed role of Interim Chief Executive of CQC in October 2025 following the immediate departure of Sir Julian Hartley. Source ↗

What Dr Arun Chopra has said

• “The figure of £220m and £2 billion as the cost of delayed discharge is very hospital-focused as is the collection of data in the NHS. How does calculating these figures help with social care capacity, the leading reason for delays for patients ready to be discharged?”

  Interim · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 30 Sept 2026 · Patients unable to leave hospital cost the NHS £2bn a year ↗

• “I'm excited that Adrian is joining us to deliver the vital work of leading our Mental Health inspectorate. He brings huge experience from across the sector and I'm sure he will build on the work of Chris Dzikiti as he leaves us to join the Nursing and Midwifery Council.”

  Interim Chief Executive of CQC · Mental health · 30 Sept 2026 · Adrian James named Interim Chief Inspector of Mental Health ↗

• “The government's 10-year plan is a real chance to improve care by putting people's needs first. But for the plan to succeed, community health and care services need more support.”

  interim chief executive of CQC · Adult social care & reform · 8 Sept 2026 · Lack of investment in community services risks shift away from hospital ↗

• “The CQC said Dr Arun Chopra, its chief inspector of mental health, would act as interim chief executive until a permanent replacement was found.”

  Chief Inspector of Mental Health at CQC · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · Care Quality Commission chief quits over maternity inquiry into NHS trust he led ↗

Where Dr Arun Chopra has been quoted

1. Chris Dzikiti to leave CQCcqc.org.uk · 4 Oct 2026
2. Patients unable to leave hospital cost the NHS £2bn a yearlowdownnhs.info · 30 Sept 2026
3. Adrian James named Interim Chief Inspector of Mental Healthcqc.org.uk · 30 Sept 2026
4. Lack of investment in community services risks shift away from hospitalnursingtimes.net · 8 Sept 2026
5. Care Quality Commission chief quits over maternity inquiry into NHS trust he ledtheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026

Related media coverage

Recent UK press coverage of their topics — not necessarily citing them directly.

• One Year On: How The Royal Foundation is strengthening suicide prevention support in the UKRoyal Foundation
• Norwich City teams up with The Royal Foundation to support suicide preventionNorwich City Football Club
• Licensable picture: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention hosted its annual Out of the Darkness Walk on Oct. 10 in Staunton's Gypsy HillReuters Connect

Contact & links

• Press office phone020 38 55 46 21published here ↗
• Staff pagehttps://www.cqc.org.uk/about-us/our-executive-team/dr-arun-chopra
• Press office emailmedia.team@cqc.org.ukpublished here ↗

Organisational contact points only, each taken from a page the organisation publishes itself. No personal or direct contact details are held or shown.