MPs on the health select committee have refused to back the government’s nomination of Dominic Dodd as chair of the NHS economic regulator Monitor.
Following a pre-appointment hearing held on October 15, the committee voted by a majority of three to two to not approve the appointment of Dodd, who is currently chair of Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. However, the committee’s view is not binding on the Department of Health.
In its report following the hearing, the committee highlighted that David Bennett has been acting as both chief executive and chair of Monitor since November 2012.
In this role, Bennett had led Monitor through a process of change as a result of the government’s Health and Social Care Act, which gave the regulator increased powers to act as the economic regulator for the health sector.
This change ushered in a period of ‘great uncertainty’ for the watchdog, and MPs said Bennett had both shaped and interpreted the role that Monitor now plays in the system.
A majority of members concluded that this made the transition to another chair especially difficult. ‘We do not think Mr Dodd is the right person to undertake that difficult transition,’ the Appointment of the chair of Monitor report stated.
Key public appointments are now subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by relevant select committees. While the health committee cannot veto appointments, a spokeswoman said it views were ‘persuasive’.
