The head of the state office that investigates deaths and abuse in mental hospitals and other medical facilities has announced his retirement.

Robert J. Fitzgerald has been director of the state Division of Health Service Regulation for the last seven years. He said his retirement, announced to his staff earlier this month, is in no way tied to The News & Observer series on mental health reform, reports Michael Biesecker.

“This is entirely of my own volition,” said Fitzgerald, 64. “This had nothing to do with any outside events.”

Fitzgerald said his retirement is effective May 1. His annual salary is $119,759.

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No longer will critics be able to rail against the N.C. Division of Facility Services for its oversight of rest homes, mental health facilities or home care services.

That’s because state officials have changed the division’s name - to the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation.

Robert Fitzgerald, the head of the division, said the new name more accurately reflects what the division does and will make it clearer to the public who to contact if they have concerns about care in North Carolina.