Mr Patel’s family and the senior management team at Day Lewis are “deeply saddened to report [his] sudden passing”, the company said in a statement this afternoon (July 18).

Mr Patel founded Day Lewis with his brother JC Patel, when they bought two pharmacies in Southborough, Kent in 1975. The company’s portfolio now stretches to 280 pharmacies across the UK – with Mr Patel’s stated goal to expand to 400 branches by 2021.

His “many” personal achievements include an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath and an MBE in 2005, the company said.

Children to "protect legacy"

Day Lewis said Mr Patel had already “invested significant time” in planning for the future. His children Jay, Rupa and Sam will “continue to lead” the company to “uphold Kirit’s values, deliver his vision and protect his legacy” with the support of JC Patel, it added.

No changes are anticipated in the company’s day-to-day running, and Day Lewis’s “experienced” senior management team will continue in their current responsibilities, it said.

Day Lewis superintendent and head of professional services Peter Glover stressed that Mr Patel’s “brilliance, passion and generosity have touched so many lives”. Pharmacy is “immeasurably better” because of his involvement in it, he said.

Mr Patel’s family and the Day Lewis senior management will “drive forward” his vision for the company for 2020 and beyond, Mr Glover added.

“Passion and zeal”

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC), on which Mr Patel sat as vice chairman, said it is “very saddened” to hear the news of his death.

PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe said she was “shocked and sad”. “Kirit’s passion and zeal for community pharmacy were unequalled,” she said. “Kirit was a mentor to many and a good friend and colleague for all at PSNC; he will be greatly missed.” 

“Huge loss”

Pharmacy London chief executive Rekha Shah said Mr Patel’s death was a “huge loss” that had happened “far too early”.

“Kirit was well known for the generosity of his nature, unstintingly providing friendship, support and kindness to all around him. He was truly inspirational to so many beyond just the pharmacy sector,” she added.

Sector pays tribute to “great leader”

Other pharmacy leaders took to Twitter to pay tribute to Mr Patel, describing him as a “great leader for UK community pharmacy”.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society CEO Helen Gordon described Mr Patel as “one of [pharmacy’s] great leaders”. “I’m better for having known him,” she said.

Partner at law firm Charles Russell Speechlys David Reissner said Mr Patel was “one of the great and good” in the sector, whose loss will be felt “far beyond” Day Lewis.

Lloydspharmacy managing director Cormac Tobin described Mr Patel as a “loving husband, father, gentleman, [and] friend”, as well as “[a] proud and sensitive man who knew laughter was the medicine of life”.

Read C+D deputy features editor Beth Kennedy's own memories of Mr Patel here.