An NHS leader has received an honorary fellowship from the University of Wolverhampton.

Hemant Patel, associate director of medicines and clinical policy at the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), received the award for his role in improving health outcomes for people living in Wolverhampton and the Black Country.

Honorary awards are presented by the university to people who have made a significant contribution to their field of expertise.

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Mr Patel first qualified as a pharmacist in 1999 and since then has worked for Boots the Chemist, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Hospital Trust, Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust, NHS Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group, Walsall Primary Care Trust and NHS Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group.

In his current role as associate director of medicines and clinical policy, Mr Patel helps to commission medicines and clinical policies for people in the Black Country and has also recently been awarded a fellowship from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

He said: "I am overwhelmed with gratitude to have my work recognised in this way and to receive such a prestigious honour from the University of Wolverhampton.

"I’m not completely sure how this all came about, after all you don’t come to work and serve your local community to receive awards.

"However, it’s a wonderful feeling to know that others are looking at what you’ve done and achieved in the field of pharmacy and prescribing."

Mark Axcell, chief executive officer for the NHS Black Country ICB, said: "Hemant plays a vital role in improving patient care in the Black Country and it’s brilliant that he has been recognised with such a prestigious award by the University of Wolverhampton.

"He is a fantastic leader and colleague and is a brilliant ambassador for pharmacists in the Black Country, so on behalf of the ICB I’d like to say a huge congratulations to Hemant."