Day Lewis’ generous gift helps University of Bath build a simulated pharmacy on campus

DAY LEWIS Pharmacy has donated a generous sum of £100,000 towards the creation of a simulated pharmacy at the University of Bath’s Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology.

As well as learning how to apply management and leadership skills in a pharmacy setting, students will gain valuable experience of offering clinical services and healthy living advice to patients.

Officially named 'The Day Lewis Pharmacy Management Simulation Suite, In Memory of Dr Kirit Patel MBE,' the new suit will help students learn through realistic patient interactions and receive detailed feedback in real time.

The gift was made in memory of Dr Kirit Patel MBE who co-founded Day Lewis Pharmacy along with his brother JC Patel in 1975.

Kirit was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university in 2016, just weeks before he passed way, leaving the pharmacy profession in shock and sadness.

The family-run pharmacy chain’s contribution ensures the University of Bath remains at the forefront of pharmacy practice even as its learning and teaching continually evolve to reflect changes within the profession.

Day Lewis directors and their families unveiled a plaque at the university last week dedicating the new facility to Kirit’s memory. They also saw the Day Lewis Pharmacy Management Simulation Suite in action, involving students and staff of the university.

Executive Director of Day Lewis Pharmacy, Rupa Patel, said: “Kirit was passionate about continuous learning and loved the pharmacy profession, and so it is an honour to be opening this facility in his memory, particularly as receiving his honorary doctorate from the University of Bath in 2016 was one of his proudest achievements.”

Professor Nick Brook, dean of the Faculty of Science, said: “We are extremely grateful to Day Lewis Pharmacy and the Patel family for their generosity, and for choosing to remember Kirit in this inspirational way.

“It has allowed us to create a forward-thinking space in the department in which students can benefit from the gamification of learning, developing a range of management and leadership skills that they can practically apply in real time.

“This is going to be vitally important in ensuring that the next generation of pharmacists being trained at Bath are well-equipped to adapt to changes that the profession will inevitably experience.”

The University’s Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology is recognised as one of the top pharmacy schools in the UK.