Day Lewis chief executive Kirit Patel, who passed away last month, was also the vice-chair and multiple representative on the PSNC. While on the committee, he helped to “provide an important conduit between multiple chemists and PSNC”, a spokesperson said.  

He was described as a “key member” of the committee, having joined in 1998.

Following his “sad and untimely death”, there will be an election process to find Mr Patel’s replacement, PSNC announced this week (August 9). 

Pharmacists representing a multiple will be invited to nominate “on or about August 17”, the committee said.

The newly elected pharmacist will join two other multiple representatives: Peter Cattee, chief executive of PCT Healthcare, and David Evans, ‎chief pharmacist and managing director at Daleacre Healthcare, on the committee. 

The new multiple representative will be expected to serve four years in the post, and attend six main meetings a year, as well as occasionally representing the committee at external meetings, the PSNC briefing adds.

Are you eligible?

Eligible candidates must be registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council, and be a pharmacist at a multiple, or an employee of a multiple. They must also agree to be “bound by PSNC’s code of conduct,” the committee said.

“The first action required as part of the election process is for multiple chemists to confirm their contact details with PSNC,” a spokesperson told C+D yesterday (August 11).

Once nominations open, the returning officer will contact each pharmacist to invite them to nominate a candidate for election.

Mr Patel’s legacy

As vice-chair of the PSNC, Mr Patel fought for the rollout of a national minor ailments service. He was a passionate defender of pharmacists in the wake of the allegations of abuse of medicines use reviews, and the planned £170 million cuts to pharmacy funding in England.

At the time of his death, PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe said Mr Patel was “a mentor to many and a good friend and colleague for all at PSNC”.

The new multiple representative is expected to be declared “on or around October 4,” the PSNC added.