Three pharmacists have been recognised in the Queen’s 2022 New Year Honours list. 

Professor Mahendra Patel, an academic pharmacist and Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) board member from west Yorkshire, was awarded an OBE for his ‘services to pharmacy’ and his ‘testing for Covid’ at Bradford University.

Mr Patel has worked as the national leads for the PRINCIPLE and PANORAMIC trials, run by Oxford University. Both trials are attempting to pioneer repurposed drug treatments in the community to prevent hospitalisation due to Covid-19.

Asif Aziz, director of Healthcare Services at Boots UK, was also honoured with an OBE for his ‘services to pharmacy, especially testing for Covid-19’. 

Mr Aziz was programme director for Covid-19 Testing, where he managed the delivery of Boots’ Covid-19 drive-thru testing facility.

Ade Williams, superintendent pharmacist of Bedminster Pharmacy, was honoured with an MBE for his ‘services to the NHS and to the community in south Bristol, particularly during Covid-19’. 

Speaking to The Pharmacist today (4 January), Mr Williams said he felt ‘undeserving’ of the award. 

He said: ‘The real story is the power of pharmacy teams to lock hands with partners in their community tackling intractable problems like health inequalities, vaccine hesitancy and innovate accessible clinical care models. 

‘The dedication of my pharmacy colleagues and the unique generosity of our south Bristol community has created a stellar partnership that makes a difference by protecting and looking after each other, especially the most vulnerable. 

‘The very values that drive community pharmacy’s work in the NHS, much on display across the country over the last two years.’  

He added that he was: ‘most humbled to carry the Pharmacy flag alongside luminaries like Prof Patel and Mr Aziz’. 

Mr Keith Ridge, the outgoing chief pharmaceutical officer for England, congratulated all three pharmacists on 'their very well-deserved honours' in a tweet his posted from his account this morning.

The tweet read: 'It's great to see them being recognised for their incredible contribution this year'.

Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer (CMO) and Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief government scientific adviser, were given a KCB (Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath) for their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The 2022 New Year’s Honours List is the most ethnically diverse list to date, of the1,278 recipients 15.1% were from an ethically diverse background.