In a Twitter post shared on Tuesday (May 30), Mr Webb said that Dr Warner would leave the role the following day.

Dr Warner has served as deputy CPhO since 2014, with Richard Cattell taking up the same post alongside him in February 2018.

Read more: NHSE&I appoints David Webb as the new chief pharmaceutical officer

Mr Webb said “a huge thank you” to Dr Warner, adding that his “expertise and support have been invaluable”.

NHS England declined to clarify the reasons for Dr Warner stepping down and whether anyone will replace him or whether co-deputy CPhO Mr Cattell will now hold the role on his own.

“Championed clinical role”

In a LinkedIn post shared yesterday (May 31), Mr Webb noted some of Dr Warner’s significant achievements in the role, saying that he “championed the clinical role of community pharmacy including most recently the independent prescribing pathfinder programme”.

“He helped make it possible for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to work in general practices, boosting both career choices and patient access”, Mr Webb said.

Read more: NHS England’s Bruce Warner defends ‘clinical’ pharmacist ‘distinction’

He added that Dr Warner also “led the cross-organisational work to manage medicines supply, advised on patient safety and provided vital expertise for our emergency responses to COVID-19, [monkeypox] and strep A”. 

According to the LinkedIn post, Dr Warner made a “crucial impact” working in pharmacy for 40 years, including 15 years running a community pharmacy, working in hospitals, universities and the National Patient Safety Agency.

Read more: Bruce Warner blames low training uptake for lack of sector investment

Dr Warner also shared his “extensive” knowledge outside of NHS England by presenting on patient safety and pharmacy issues nationally and internationally and as a visiting professor at the University of Huddersfield, it said. 

Mr Webb added that Dr Warner “will be missed”.