Community Pharmacy England (CPE) are calling on pharmacists to apply to join its committee.

The successful applicant will be the independent regional representative for its East and North Midlands region on CPE’s committee following a previous representative’s resignation.

Candidates are being asked to send in expressions of interest for the vacancy by May 14.

Read more: ‘Likely to get worse’: Warning after record drug price concessions

Eligible pharmacists must be independent pharmacy owners with up to nine NHS pharmacies in England and not be an Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) member.

They must be a member or officer of one of the following local pharmaceutical committees (LPCs) in the region:

• Derbyshire LPC
• Leicestershire & Rutland LPC
• Lincolnshire LPC
• Nottinghamshire LPC
• Shropshire LPC
• Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent LPC

The mid-term election means the new representative’s term of office will end on March 31, 2027, as the vacancy has come up three years into the usual four-year term for regional representatives.

Next week (May 18), a notice will be sent of those seeking formal nominations following the expression of interest and these must be submitted by June 2 with six supporting independent pharmacy owners in the region.

If more than one nomination is received, a ballot will be held where candidates submit a 500-word policy statement by June 19 that will be sent out to all independent pharmacy owners in the region.

Read more: CPE gave ‘abrupt’ response to call for action on contract, says IPA

Each independent pharmacy owner is entitled to one vote for each of its NHS pharmacy premises in the region, and voting will close on July 13.

If only one nomination is received, that candidate will be elected.

CPE has said applicants need to be aware of the time commitments of joining the committee and be “confident” it can arrange cover for running its pharmacies while attending CPE meetings.

Read more: NHS updates EPS nomination standards amid ‘renewed scrutiny’

The negotiator has around five two-day meetings a year, along with other meetings and sub-committees the independent regional representative may be nominated to attend.

It also urged pharmacy owners to elect a representative who will “do their best for the whole network of pharmacies”.

It comes after CPE issued a warning following the second consecutive record month for drug price concession numbers, and it declined to be involved in seeking legal advice on the NHS pharmacy contract with the IPA.