An 11th GP has died with coronavirus (Covid-19), his family has told our sister publication, Pulse.
Dr Mohinder Singh Dhatt, 80, of Slough, Berkshire, died at Wexham Park Hospital on 28 April.
He was a sessional GP at the award-winning Kumar Medical Centre, where anticoagulation services were among his special interests.
Dr Dhatt is survived by his three children and seven grandchildren.
His eldest daughter, fellow GP Dr Mini Dhatt, told Pulse: ‘On behalf of the whole family, I pay tribute to my father, who worked for 54 years in the NHS.
‘He was passionate about medicine and kept himself very up-to-date with the latest guidelines and CPD. He was popular with his patients, and always told me how he never felt stressed by his work.
‘His calm and empathetic nature stood him in good stead for a long-standing career in general practice. He intended to carry on, having recently been revalidated for a further five years. He leaves a huge void in our lives as well as many other family, friends, community groups and colleagues. RIP.’
Dr Jim O’Donnell, locality lead for Slough at NHS East Berkshire CCG, said: ‘We regret to inform you all of the very sad news of the passing of one of our longest-standing GPs in Slough, Dr Mohinder Singh Dhatt, having tested positive for Covid-19.
‘He was most recently working at Kumar Medical Centre, having before that served for many years as a partner at Langley Health Centre.
‘He was very well-known, tremendously popular, and his death is a great loss to his family, close colleagues and to us all. His genial and thoughtful manner were trademarks, as was his encyclopaedic knowledge of medicine in general practice.
‘He was a keen supporter of professional training and development in Slough and had a special interest in haematology. He will be very much missed and we extend our sympathy and condolences to his family and friends.’
Also paying tribute was local MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, who praised Dr Dhatt as a ‘highly respected’ member of the community.
Dr Dhatt is the tenth GP of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) origin to have died with Covid-19. A Government investigation is currently underway to establish why BAME people may be worse affected.
He is also the third practising GP aged in their 80s to have died with the virus. A further three were in their late 70s.
