NHS England | United Kingdom
Author Profile
Orcid
Early Academic Pursuits 📚
Sejal Parekh embarked on her academic journey with a Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) from University College London, where she honed her expertise in pharmaceutical sciences. In 2017, she furthered her education with a Master’s in Clinical Research (MRes), funded by the NIHR. This strong academic foundation in pharmacy and clinical research equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
Professional Endeavors 💼
Sejal’s career spans diverse roles within both hospital and community pharmacy settings. She has been instrumental in leading national quality improvement initiatives, particularly as a Senior Project/Policy Manager at NHS England. Her role involved developing criteria for the Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS) and liaising with stakeholders like NHS Digital, Public Health England, and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC). Her work, particularly during the pandemic, led to the implementation of infection control measures, influencing community pharmacy operations across the country.
Contributions and Research Focus 🔬
Sejal's contributions are deeply rooted in antimicrobial stewardship, service delivery, and policy writing. A notable project was her leadership in the NSAID safety audit within community pharmacies, where she identified a significant gap in gastroprotection for patients on NSAIDs. Her findings prompted recommendations that improved patient safety in primary care, aligning with the WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge. Sejal has co-authored several reports and articles that are widely recognized within the medical community.
Accolades and Recognition 🏆
Throughout her career, Sejal has received several awards, including:
- HSJ Winner: Patient Safety Team of 2023 for her work on the Pharmacy Quality Scheme.
- She was also the Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacist of the Year for London (2003) and a GlaxoSmithKline Prize recipient for her work on smoking cessation.
Her accolades underscore her dedication to patient safety and innovative pharmaceutical care.
Impact and Influence 🌍
Sejal's work has had a profound impact on community pharmacy in the UK. Her development of safer prescribing initiatives and infection control protocols, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, has contributed to national improvements in healthcare delivery. Her ability to collaborate across teams and organizations has resulted in smoother policy implementations and improved patient outcomes.
Legacy and Future Contributions 🌟
As a thought leader in pharmacy, Sejal Parekh’s legacy is built upon her pioneering work in antimicrobial stewardship and patient safety. Her ongoing contributions to the Pharmacy Quality Scheme and national healthcare initiatives demonstrate her commitment to improving service quality. With her recent role as a Programme Manager for NHS England, Sejal is poised to continue making impactful changes in the healthcare landscape. Her future endeavors will likely include further innovations in pharmacy services, ensuring continued excellence in patient care.
Publications
- 📚 "An Evaluation of Oral Anticoagulant Safety Indicators by England’s Community Pharmacies"
Journal: Pharmacy, Year: 2024
Authors: Sejal Parekh, Lingqian Xu, Carina Livingstone
- 📚 "Responding to Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms in England’s Community Pharmacies"
Journal: Antibiotics, Year: 2023
Authors: Sejal Parekh, Kieran S Hand, Lingqian Xu, Victoria Roberts, Fionna Pursey, Diane Ashiru-Oredope, Donna Lecky
- 📚 "The National Implementation of a Community Pharmacy Antimicrobial Stewardship Intervention (PAMSI) through the English Pharmacy Quality Scheme 2020 to 2022"
Journal: Antibiotics, Year: 2023
Authors: Catherine Hayes, Sejal Parekh, Donna Lecky, Jill Loader, Carry Triggs-Hodge, Diane Ashiru-Oredope
- 📚 "ESPAUR Report 2021 to 2022 Chapter 5: NHS England Improvement and Assurance Schemes"
Journal: Medical Sciences Forum, Year: 2023
Authors: Kieran S Hand, Diane Ashiru-Oredope, Elizabeth Beech, Sabine Bou-Antoun, Gillian Damant, Naomi Fleming, Catherine Hayes, Philip Howard, Conor Jamieson, Monsey McLeod et al.
- 📚 "National Antimicrobial Stewardship Activities in Primary and Secondary Care in England 2021–22 (ESPAUR Report)"
Journal: Medical Sciences Forum, Year: 2023
Authors: Ella Casale, Catherine Hayes, Donna Lecky, Luke O’Neil, Eirwen Sides, Emily Cooper, Fionna Pursey, Sejal Parekh, Eleanor J. Harvey, Diane Ashiru-Oredope