Southwark Hero Gains Liberty of Borough After Lib Dem Nomination

A pharmacist received the Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Southwark award on Saturday after a Liberal Democrat nomination.

Atulkumar Patel runs a pharmacy near Elephant and Castle in St George’s ward.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Maria Linforth-Hall nominated Atulkumar Patel for the award as he played a vital role in encouraging covid vaccine uptakes in the area.

Atulkumar Patel’s pharmacy was the first and only one in North Southwark to be involved in the national covid vaccination programme.

It was approved to deliver 270 doses a week in February 2021 and saw such great demand that it opened seven days a week to deliver vaccines.

Southwark Council granted the award at its civic awards in the borough’s cathedral.

Commenting, Cllr Maria Linforth-Hall, Southwark Liberal Democrat councillor for St George’s ward said:

“I am delighted that a local hero like Atulkumar Patel received this prestigious award. The covid pandemic has been a period of immense suffering, but we are lucky to have had people like Atul rise up to support our community.”