He served as president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists from 1995 to 1998 and as Chancellor of the University of Dundee from 2006 to 2017.

As part of his investiture he chose to bestow honorary degrees on the Baroness Cox and Professor Anna Glasier OBE.

)[2] On St Andrew's Day, 30 November 2009, Lord Patel was appointed to the Order of the Thistle by Queen Elizabeth II.

The order honours Scottish men and women who have held public office or who have contributed in some way to national life.

[11] 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.