It is with much sadness that we report on the passing of Mala Bridgelal-Ram in late December 2021 of illness not related to Covid. Mala was instrumental in the founding of PRSB and worked tirelessly to establish the organisation from setting up the business management to getting key stakeholders involved and building our website. Mala was a great friend to all in PRSB and very few people could have persevered in the early stages and delivered in the way she did whilst being a lovely colleague and friend. PRSB sends our deepest condolences to Mala’s family and friends at this difficult time.

Mala worked very closely with Professor Iain Carpenter – our first Chair and original visionary who recognised the need for ‘the PRSB’. Mala worked alongside Iain to make the ideas reality – they were a great partnership combining Iain’s passion and vision with Mala’s calm common sense and determination to make things better.

‘Mala, along with Iain Carpenter, grew PRSB from an idea. Through thick and thin, Mala never lost faith in the importance of what they were creating and was prepared to make sacrifices to keep it going. Serene but steely, and immensely capable, she truly kept PRSB alive in its early days. And her determination inspired others to join in. Mala was thoughtful, kind and a joy to work with. PRSB is one of the legacies she has left behind in a life of helping others’ – Marlene Winfield

‘A nurse by background, she had a masters degree in health informatics and research experience in heart disease and the treatment of epidermolysis bullosa. She joined the Health Informatics Unit (HIU) at the Royal College of Physicians at the very start of the record standards programme. She was dedicated to the cause of improving care for people which to this day is reflected in the methodology used in developing care record standards. After some time away from the HIU, she re-joined Iain to help establish the PRSB. Mala put her all into creating the PRSB and setting it on the road to what it has become today, I hope she would be proud. Some of us will remember her personally, as a fantastic colleague and wonderful friend. All of us should remember what she achieved’. – Lorraine Foley and Iain Carpenter