Two antimicrobial pharmacists recognised in New Year Honours

Two pharmacists who have been leading work on protecting against antimicrobial resistance across the NHS have been recognised in the 2020 New Year Honours list.

Philip Howard, a consultant pharmacist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to healthcare. Howard has been involved in the development of national antimicrobial stewardship guidance for primary care and hospitals and was the first pharmacist to be made president of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

Elizabeth Beech, national project lead for antimicrobial resistance at NHS England and NHS Improvement, was also made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to public health.

Howard told The Pharmaceutical Journal: “I’m deeply humbled and honoured to receive this award, and would like to thank those who nominated me.

“I have been actively involved in combatting antimicrobial resistance for many years now, so receiving an OBE for services to healthcare, rather than pharmacy, reflects the multidisciplinary team working that has existed within the UK for many years to contain antimicrobial resistance.

“Personally, this is a fantastic way to end the decade for me, especially as few pharmacists receive an honour for clinically focused activity. Hopefully, I have played a small part in getting pharmacy more engaged in driving the AMR agenda in all sectors at home and abroad. The new decade will see pharmacy become more actively involved in AMR within the UK and globally.”

Others recognised were Jeannette Howe, head of pharmacy at the Department of Health and Social Care, who was made an OBE for services to pharmacy and William Mawhinney, previously head of the Medicines Regulatory Group in Northern Ireland, who was made an MBE for services to pharmacy, medicines regulation and public safety. 

The former chief medical officer for England, Dame Sally Davies, was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 2020 honours list.