Hemant Patel quits North East London LPC after 26 years at the helm

A community pharmacy veteran and an influential thought-leader, Hemant Patel has resigned his post as secretary of North East London Local Pharmaceutical Committee (NELLPC).

A statement issued on Wednesday (May 26), NELLPC confirmed that "following a long period of illness and reaching his retirement age" Hemant stepped down on May 18.

"It was a privilege to serve the pharmacy contractors, their pharmacists and employees in North East London," the retiring secretary of NELLPC said, adding: "I wish them all success and enjoyment from their work to heal and improve the health of the people of NE London."

Under his 26 year-long leadership, NELLPC has made considerable progress in developing a number of community pharmacy services which have served as a model for others to emulate. Patel was instrumental in rolling out initiatives such as smoking cessation, sexual health services, mental health support and the use of ECG within community pharmacies across North East London.

Surinder Singh Kalsi, the chair of the LPC, thanked Patel for his service and dedication to the cause of community pharmacy. “We wish him well for a long, healthy and happy retirement.”

Patel was president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Great Britain for four terms, having also served the profession at local, national and international level. As president of RPSGB, he set out an ambition to establish Britain as the safest place in the world to receive medicines.

He has also won several awards, including the RPS charter award when it was instituted in 2011, for his work to reposition community pharmacy.

Often spoken of as a straight-talking and inspiring speaker within the community pharmacy sector, Patel has won many a plaudit and has been mentioned by various pharmacy ministers in dispatches.