College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (1998), the Royal College of Anaesthetists (1998), the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (2000), the Faculty of Public Health (2003), the Royal College of General Practitioners (2004) and the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2005), and is an Honorary Member of the German, Finnish, Argentinian, Chilean and Italian Societies of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He has been awarded honorary degrees by Edinburgh Napier University (1996), the University of Aberdeen (2001) and the University of St Andrews (2001) (all D.Sc.), the Universities of Stellenbosch (2001) and Athens (2004) (both M.D.), and the University of Dundee (2004) (LL.D.) On St Andrew's Day, 30 November 2009, Lord Patel was appointed to the Order of the Thistle by Queen Elizabeth II. The Order of the Thistle is the highest chivalric honour in Scotland. In the UK as a whole it is second only to the Order of the Garter amongst chivalric orders. The order honours Scottish men and women who have held public office or who have contributed in some way to national life. Lord Patel became the first Asian appointee in the Order's 322-year history. The Order was officially presented by the Queen during an audience at Buckingham Palace on 9 June 2010. Patron of SafeHands for Mothers, a UK-based charity whose mission is to improve maternal and newborn health by harnessing the power of the visual, through the production of films. References 1938 births Living people British people of Indian descent British people of Gujarati descent British Hindus Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences (United Kingdom) Crossbench life peers Knights Bachelor Knights of the Thistle British obstetricians Chancellors of the University of Dundee Alumni of the University of Dundee Alumni of the University of St Andrews Tanzanian emigrants to the United Kingdom People from Lindi British politicians of Indian descent People associated with Dundee People associated with Perth and Kinross Health in Dundee Life peers created by Elizabeth II