CORONAVIRUS: Tributes paid after Pilgrim Hospital doctor loses his long battle with Covid-19

Rudresh Pathak, 65, died at the end of last month. He had just come out of the Intensive Care Unit and seemed to be recovering but suffered a stroke and died a week later.

He spent 81 days in the ICU at Pilgrim – 70 of them on a ventilator – and was clapped out by a staff guard of honour when he left the unit, as seen on the video.

His family say he was recovering and looking forward to coming home when he suffered the stroke as a result of the virus .

Dr Pathak had worked at the hospital for almost 30 years and worked for the NHS for 40 years in total.

His funeral is due to take place tomorrow (Tuesday) and the hearse will be driven through the grounds of Pilgrim Hospital before the ceremony sometime around 12.25-12.30pm.

Dr Pathak leaves a wife, Bharti, who is also a doctor, and two children, Neha and Anish.

He is the second member of staff at Pilgrim Hospital to die with coronavirus – nurse Anujkumar Kuttikkottu Pavithra died in April.

Dr Pathak’s daughter, Neha, spoke of his brave fight over more than 80 days to beat the virus.

“He was admitted to Pilgrim Hospital on 24 March and diagnosed with Covid 19. He was then moved to the ICU at Pilgrim Hospital and put on a ventilator on 27 March,” she said.

“He remained on the ventilator for in excess of 70 days and for the majority of this time he was very ill and unconscious.

“It is a testament to my father's strength and will power, that in spite of this, he started to improve towards the end of May.

“He came off the ventilator on 7 June and we are told he is one of very few in the UK to have remained on a ventilator with Covid 19 for so long.”

He was then moved to a general ward after 81 days in ICU, and looking forward to returning home, she said.

“Unfortunately, on 19 June, he suffered a stroke as a result of the Covid virus. He battled on for another week but sadly passed away on Friday 26 June.”

Paying tribute to her father, Neha said: “My father had a positive impact on so many people. He was a very kind and very humble person with a real zest for life. He went through so much.

“We also want to express our gratitude to the NHS staff involved in my father's treatment, and in particular to a couple of the staff that really went out of their way and did everything they could to help him.

“The local community, including some of my father's colleagues, have suggested naming one of the buildings at Pilgrim Hospital (where he'd worked for almost 30 years) after him and have approached the relevant NHS trust regarding this.

“In addition, they also suggested setting up a scholarship in my father's name as he was always incredibly generous and giving to all, and as a family we also believe that this would be a fitting way to remember him.”

Brendan Hayes, Chief Executive said: “We were extremely saddened to hear the news about Dr Rudresh Pathak’s death and we have shared our sincere condolences with his wife and family.

“Rudresh had worked for Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for 29 years and was a very popular member of staff who provided support and encouragement to those with whom he came into contact, both professionally and personally.

“He worked with several teams during his extensive career as a psychiatrist in the Trust and the impact of his death has been felt far and wide. He was a very well-liked and respected member of the team and his many friends and colleagues will miss him dearly.

“Our thoughts are with Rudresh’s family and friends at this incredibly sad time”.

Dr Pathak was born in Uganda in 1954 and studied medicine at the Government Medical College in Aurangabad, India.

He moved to the UK in 1980 and worked in various locations. Prior to Pilgrim he worked in Inverness as a senior registrar in psychiatry for a couple of years and before this he worked in Hull at De la pole Hospital for two years as a Registrar.

The family moved to Boston in 1991 when he started work at Pilgrim where he was appointed a consultant psychiatrist.

He lived with his wife at Tollfield Road in the town.

*On Sunday communities joined in a Clap for the NHS to mark the 72nd anniversary of the Health Service. It is hoped to make this an annual event.