His Majesty The King becomes new Patron of RPS
Published: 13 May 2024
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
We are proud to announce His Majesty The King has agreed to become the new Patron of Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS).
Buckingham Palace confirmed the news to mark the first anniversary of the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen. It follows a thorough analysis of over 1,000 Patronages of The late Queen, The former Prince of Wales and The former Duchess of Cornwall.
We have a long association with the Royal Family through The late Queen, who was Patron of RPS from 1953 until her death in 2022. Her father, George VI, was Patron of RPS from 1937-1952.
Claire Anderson, president of RPS, said:
“We are hugely proud that His Majesty The King has chosen to be our patron, following in the footsteps of The late Queen and her father, George VI. We are grateful to the Royal Family for their ongoing support.”
Paul Bennett, chief executive of the RPS, said:
“It is an honour to have His Majesty The King as our new Royal Patron. We look forward to continuing our work to highlight the vital contribution pharmacy teams make to patient care across Great Britain with the patronage of His Majesty.”
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Professor Mahendra G Patel OBE awarded Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of GPs
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has awarded an Honorary Fellowship to Professor Mahendra G Patel OBE, recognising his exceptional contributions to healthcare, research equity and cross-professional leadership. Mahendra is an RPS Fellow, former member of the RPS English Pharmacy Board and previously held the post of RPS Treasurer. This accolade is the RCGP’s highest award for non-GPs. Starting in community pharmacy, Mahendra transitioned to academia, where he pioneered the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Student Champions Programme, embedding evidence-based practice and tackling health inequalities across the curricula of 40 medical, pharmacy, nursing and dental schools. He earned one of the first NICE Fellowships for his early leadership. As a Board member for RPS England, Mahendra led the development of national diabetes initiatives and a diabetes toolkit, while forging partnerships across professional boundaries and internationally. During the pandemic he played a crucial role in increasing diversity for the major 'PANORAMIC' and 'PRINCIPLE' COVID-19 trials, efforts which were recognised by the World Health Organization and the United Nations. He is the founding director of the Centre for Research Equity, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, shaping national research policy, collaborating with the RCGP and forming strategic partnerships across the UK. As co-lead of the NIHR-supported Race Equity Incubator, he is driving efforts to strengthen research capacity and capability while fostering equitable career progression for Black and minority ethnic healthcare professionals. A member of the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board, Mahendra is a strong supporter of RPS becoming the Royal College of Pharmacy. He is also a BMJ NHS Commissioner and Professional Advisor to England’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer. HSJ named him as one of the 50 most influential BAME figures in UK healthcare today. Professor Mahendra G Patel OBE said: “This stands as one of the proudest moments of my career, and for the pharmacy profession I represent, as RPS progresses to become the Royal College of Pharmacy. I hope this recognition becomes a catalyst: for closer collaboration, for shared leadership, and for inspiring members of both our professions to think beyond traditional boundaries – at every stage of their careers. “At a time of extraordinary pressures on general practice and pharmacy, joined-up thinking and integrated leadership across our professions has never been more urgent. I’ve always sought to break silos, widen access, and drive equity, with a clear focus on improving health outcomes by tackling the deep-rooted inequalities that persist across our communities. This Fellowship, for me, is not the culmination of that long journey, but the beginning of a renewed and fresh commitment.” RPS President Professor Claire Anderson said: “I’d like to offer my warmest congratulations to Mahendra on this prestigious Fellowship, which marks his huge contribution to the profession and healthcare. His work continues to inspire a new generation of pharmacists and researchers committed to equity, innovation, and collaborative leadership. Long may it continue.”