A local pharmaceutical committee (LPC) chair was awarded an honour in King Charles’ birthday honours list on Friday (June 13).
Amish Patel has been recognised for “services to community pharmacy” and was made a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM).
He told C+D he is “ecstatic” and “lost for words”.
Read more: Two pharmacists and OTC chief recognised in King’s New Year honours list
“It’s probably the pinnacle of my career so far,” he said. “I went away for my 40th birthday in April and came home and there was a letter waiting for me.
“What a way to celebrate a birthday and for it to come out on the weekend of Father’s Day. It’s amazing!”
“Do the best I can for people”
The community pharmacist is the director of Hodgson Pharmacy in Longfield, Kent, and has been Kent LPC’s chair since March 2022.
He believes his work at the pharmacy has helped him receive the honour as he gets “bored easily” and is “always thinking of new things and new services” he can offer, he told C+D.
Read more: Amish Patel - Four steps to achieving managerial success
Patel added: “I qualified in 2008, so I can only think it’s to do with being an LPC member for almost all of that time.
“I’m chair of the LPC and have been on the board of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) during COVID-19. So, I’ve been around for some time and trying to put the good fight forward.”
Read more: Boots chief among 3 pharmacists recognised in Queen’s Jubilee Honours list
He said his work with the LPC and NPA are some of his biggest personal achievements.
“It might not be a medal,” he said, but they are about “trying to be the best version of me and do the best I can for people I represent”.
Patel previously won a C+D Award in 2014 as Manager of the Year and was shortlisted in the coveted Community Pharmacist of the Year category last year.
“Humble nature”
Elsewhere in the King’s birthday honours list, a recently retired pharmacist was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for “services to pharmacy in Northern Ireland”.
Dr Anne Friel’s last role was as Western Health and Social Care Trust head of pharmacy and medicines management in Londonderry.
Read more: Three pharmacists recognised in Queen’s New Year Honours list
She said she was “delighted that through this award the pharmacy profession and pharmacy teams are recognised for their critical contribution to patient care”.
Friel improved end-of-life care through pharmacy services and introduced robotics to the pharmacy department, as well as supporting the introduction of consultant pharmacists in Northern Ireland, the trust said.
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She added: “I have been inspired by so many throughout my career and want to use this as an opportunity to celebrate our profession and thank all my wonderful colleagues who have mentored and worked with me throughout the years.”
Western Trust chief executive Neil Guckian said Friel had been a “role model and a mentor to many” and her “humble nature and empathy was evident in everything she did for the benefit of patients and colleagues”.
Read more: Former NI CPO among pharmacists named in Queen’s Birthday Honours
It comes after two pharmacists and an over-the-counter medication association chief were named in King Charles’ new year honours list for their “outstanding contributions to their communities” in December.
Previously, Boots chief pharmacist Marc Donovan was one of three pharmacists to be awarded in the Queen’s Jubilee Birthday honours list in June 2022.
And three pharmacists were awarded in the Queen’s New Year honours list for 2022 in recognition of their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
