Noel Wicks is the second member to step down from the board this year, following the resignation of south England representative Mike Hewitson in April in protest at the appointment of wholesaler director Nitin Sodha as chair.

Mr Wicks told C+D last week that he had resigned “with sadness…due to the increasing challenges of running an expanding community pharmacy group, as well as some unanticipated changes in our family circumstances”.

He left his Scotland post on August 31, he said, to focus on his role as director of Right Medicine Pharmacy, which has 22 branches across Scotland.

“I know the board will be keen to ensure Scottish representation is maintained and I’m looking forward to supporting my replacement in due course,” he said.

NPA chair Nitin Sodha said: “Noel will carry on working on one or two NPA projects, but without the demands of being a board member.”

The board is due to meet this week and “a discussion around the next steps will be on the agenda”, Mr Sodha added.

“Naturally we are sorry to see him leaving, but we thank him for his hard work and dedication.”