Institution news
Patrick was a pioneer in surgical robotics and an active member of IMechE’s medical engineering division for over 15 years.
Patrick was elected Chair in 2013 and led an initiative to broaden the division’s scope and raise the profile of healthcare within IMechE. His efforts led to the formation of IMechE’s Biomedical Engineering Association, the largest grouping of professional biomedical engineers in the UK.
He was the lead author of the IMechE’s 2014 report “Biomedical Engineering: Advancing UK Healthcare” and represented the IMechE on healthcare issues in national newspapers and broadcast interviews.
Patrick was elected a Trustee of the Institution in May 2016 and served on the Trustee Board until July 2018.
Alan Cottenden, Emeritus Professor of Incontinence Technology, Department of Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering, University College London, said:
“Patrick was an excellent chair of the division, well organised and efficient and very good at helping us navigate complex territory without getting caught up in endless time-consuming debates. As well as dealing with the business efficiently, he also had excellent people skills, both one-on-one and with groups.”
Patrick was involved in promoting the IMechE both directly and as an invited member of several Royal Academy of Engineering working groups. In 2016 he authored IMechE’s response to the Taylor Commission inquiry into accelerated access, and in 2015 he was a contributor on behalf of IMechE to the RAEng’s response to the House of Commons Big Data Dilemma inquiry.
Patrick was an entrepreneur with a PhD in automation. He founded Europe’s first medical robotics company in 1991. One manufacturing and marketing business to emerge from this initiative, FreeHand Surgical Ltd.
Patrick remained active in medical technology through his consultancy company MediMaton Ltd. He was also director of a small company developing automated patient handling equipment.
In 2016 Patrick was appointed as CEO of the Institute of Measurement and Control.
He is survived by his wife, Sue, and his three sons.