Director of healthcare services at Boots Asif Aziz was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his “services to pharmacy, especially testing for COVID-19”, it was announced last week (December 31).

West Yorkshire pharmacist and professor Mahendra Patel, who sits on C+D's clinical advisory board, also received an OBE for his services to pharmacy.

Meanwhile, superintendent pharmacist at Bedminster Pharmacy Ade Williams was given a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for providing “services to the NHS and to the community in south Bristol, particularly during COVID-19”.

Mr Aziz said in a statement to C+D today (January 4) that the OBE is a testament to “the dedication and commitment of many team members at Boots who have focused on continuing to serve customers and patients throughout the pandemic”.

He was “humbled and delighted to be recognised in this way”, Mr Aziz said, following a “demanding and rewarding year” in which he “support[ed] the NHS to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the communities that Boots serves”.

Award shows trust placed in pharmacy teams

Mr Williams told C+D he felt “most undeserving” of the MBE he received for his services to the NHS.

“I know what our team does for our community is the same as all our other community pharmacy colleagues,” he said.

The award ultimately “brings into focus the story of the unique generosity of my south Bristol community”, Mr Williams said, as well as they partnered to “make a difference especially over the past two years” and looked after each other “and all the most vulnerable”.

The award also acknowledges the trust placed in community pharmacy teams “to address intractable health inequalities”, he continued.

Keith Ridge, the outgoing chief pharmaceutical officer for England, congratulated the three pharmacists on “their very well-deserved honours” in a tweet this morning.

“It's great to see them being recognised”, he wrote, “for their incredible contribution this year”.