Embedding Community Pharmacy in Neighbourhood Health: A Network Science Approach to NHS Integration and Optimisation

 This roundtable explores how community pharmacy can be better embedded within neighbourhood health teams, using a network science approach to understand how collaboration works in practice. Despite its accessibility, pharmacy often remains marginalised, with weak referral pathways and limited integration into decision-making.

Bringing together policymakers, NHS leaders and frontline practitioners at CPC London, the session will identify where collaboration breaks down and co-design practical, scalable solutions to strengthen integration. Insights will inform GPN’s forthcoming policy report.

If you are registering for this roundtable, register for CPC London at: https://www.pharmacycongress.co.uk/CPCL26-GPN as well.

To view more about CPC, please visit: https://www.pharmacycongress.co.uk/CPCL26LP-GPN

People without a ticket will not be admitted to this event.

The Chair: 

Minesh Parbat 

ICS Chief Pharmacist, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB 

Minesh Parbat has worked in senior leadership positions within the NHS and led medicines to optimisation projects strategically and operationally. He is currently the ICS Chief Pharmacist, NHS Shropshire, Telford, and Wrekin. Minesh practised as an independent prescribing pharmacist and structured medication reviews in a GP Practice for over 10 years. As a visiting lecturer at various academic institutions, he engaged students in research projects and audit initiatives. He has served on several pharmacy-related committees to support the progression of the pharmacy profession and has a keen interest in leadership, equality, diversity, and inclusion across healthcare. 

The speakers 

Vicki Roberts 

Service Development Manager, Community Pharmacy England 

Vicki qualified as a pharmacist in 1994 and worked for Lloyds Pharmacy for 20 years.  She has also worked in a Senior Policy Lead role at NHS England and most recently served as Chief Executive Officer at Community Pharmacy South Yorkshire.  Whilst working for Lloyds Pharmacy, she was a member of several LPCs and chaired the Company Chemists’ Association LPC Support Group. She joined Community Pharmacy England in March 2025 as Service Development Manager, working to support the development, commissioning and implementation of local and national NHS pharmacy services. She supports the team’s wider role of monitoring the wider NHS and healthcare policy environment and has a particular focus on neighbourhood health and working with the network of LPCs supporting the commissioning of local services. 

Jignesh Patel  

Pharmacist Independent Prescriber 

With over 37 years of experience in community pharmacy, Jignesh was the Pharmacy Proprietor, and a Director of Rohpharm Ltd. Jignesh has held several key leadership roles, including Past Vice Chair of the Northeast London Local Pharmaceutical Committee (NEL LPC) and Joint Chair of Newham GP and Community Pharmacy Forum. 

In addition to his work in community pharmacy, Jignesh was a Director of Traveljab Ltd, an online travel clinic marketing company, and has been a Travel Clinic Specialist since 2010. Jignesh became a qualified Independent Prescribing Pharmacist in 2016, further advancing his clinical expertise. 

Currently, Jignesh is actively engaged with the NHS Northeast London (NEL) Integrated Care Board (ICB) as part of the Community Pharmacy Independent Prescriber Pathfinder Programme, focusing on hypertension and lipid management. Jignesh also serves as the Chair of the NEL ICB Pharmacy Provider Group, Community Pharmacy Primary Care Network (PCN) Lead for Newham Central 1, and PCN Lead Manager for Community Pharmacy Northeast London (CPNEL). 

Shilpa Shah, Chief Executive Officer of the Northeast London Local Pharmaceutical Committee. 

Shilpa Shah is an experienced, award-winning leader in the Community Pharmacy sector. She is a pharmacist and Royal Pharmaceutical Society fellow who has worked in the Community Pharmacy field for almost 25 years. She is a Board Advisor and Advocate on the Inclusive Pharmacy Practice Advisory Board. Shilpa is also a volunteer Director of Branch Operations, a listening volunteer for Samaritans, a volunteer at Pharmacist Support, and a volunteer Healthcare Deputy Manager at Crisis at Christmas.