Family and friends of highly-respected former Tameside GP and leading NHS campaigner Dr Kailash Chand OBE said their final goodbyes to him at a special service.

The eminent GP and NHS campaigner sadly passed away on the evening of Monday 26 July after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home. He was 73.

Kailash worked for 25 years as a GP in Ashton, while he was the first Asian honorary vice president of the British Medical Association (BMA), and had stints as Chair of Healthwatch Tameside, and Tameside and Glossop Primary Care Trust. 

During his 35 year career in the NHS, he tirelessly campaigned for the NHS to remain free at the point of service and fought to stop it from being privatised, as well as promoting public health at a local, regional and national level.  

Tributes to Dr Chand poured in from around the world from politicians, fellow GPs, organisational bodies as well as members of the local community. 

A commemorative service was held at Dukinfield Town Hall last Friday (13 August), which some 100 people could attend, safely socially distanced, and which was a fitting farewell to Kailash and a ‘celebration of his life’.

A number of key figures paid tribute to his remarkable life in a service that lasted an hour and a half.

Among the speakers were Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who, as well as being a Labour Party colleague had forged a very special and close friendship with Kailash.  

Andy Burnham

Andy spoke of how that friendship had grown from his time as health secretary, to his time as Mayor, including visiting India with Kailash in 2019.

He credited Dr Chand with being key in establishing the Greater Manchester race equality panel which Kailash himself subsequently served upon.

Andy stated: “I want to say, on behalf of Greater Manchester, thank you to Kailash for the enormous contributions to this borough of Tameside - and he was nominated here as GP of the year - but it was more than that, it was service to the people of Greater Manchester and also to the country through his roles at a national level with the British Medical Association. He made an immense contribution.”

On a personal level he described Kailash as having a ‘socialism of the heart’. 

“He was rebellious yes, but his socialism was of a warm and gentle kind. He was principled, not dogmatic or dictatorial, but he radiated warmth, generosity, gentleness and kindness.”

All remembered his ‘lessons for life’ and many quoted directly from them - including the Mayor.

In an emotional address, he added: “He was truly exceptional and selfless... we should live all of your lessons every single day.”

In a previous tribute he had referred to the doctor as ‘one of the kindest souls to have walked this earth’.

Council Chair of the British Medial Association Chaand Nagpaul also attended and shared his long association with Dr Chand, saying he instantly connected with Kailash’s passion for the NHS from the outset.

He described Dr Chand as an inspirational figure, fearless in speaking out about what he believed.

The two met in 1999 when they were both serving on the BMA GPs’ committee and developed a close bond. 

“We became instant allies and then we became friends,” said Dr Nagpaul.

“I loved his sense of conviction, his passion, his willingness to speak out about what he thought was right. Kailash always put his principles and values above anything else.” 

He also explained how Dr Chand had strongly encouraged Dr Nagpaul to stand as chair of GPC and then later as chair of the BMA council.

“He gave me the confidence and the belief to do it, and he was always there to provide guidance and support,” he said.

“It was a particularly proud moment in my life to fulfil his wish to see me as the first ethnic minority chair of the BMA UK Council,” he added.

“I felt a duty to live up to Kailash’s standards, most notably over the last 18 months of the pandemic, to speak out in the interests of the public’s health.”

Speaking on behalf of Tameside at the service was Tameside Council Executive Leader Cllr Brenda Warrington, who described the opportunity to pay tribute on behalf of the borough as a great honour.

“He was not born in Tameside but we consider him one of our very own... it is hard to remember when he was not part of our family here. He was a very highly regarded GP here in Ashton for more than 20 years and his list of achievements and awards are too many to mention here,” she said.

She mentioned some of his achievements however and the fact that he was chair of Tameside Healthwatch.

“Kailash was a passionate supporter of many in this borough with regard to improving the health and the care of residents and was constantly encouraging and inspiring... he truly was an amazing human being.”

Dame Clare Gerada also spoke of her very great friendship with Kailash. They had first met when she became chairperson of the Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 2010 - the first woman in the role for 50 years.

In an emotional and heartfelt speech she spoke of Kailash’s huge support as she settled into that role.

Ramesh Mehta, OBE, President of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) also spoke.

For those unable to attend the funeral service, it was streamed live on YouTube. 

The service was followed by a funeral ceremony at Hollinwood Cemetery in Oldham, where Gurinder Chada (TV and film director - including of Bend It Like Beckham) spoke as a close friend of Kailash and his son Aseem, and paid heartfelt tributes herself to the doctor. 

Gurinder Chada

BBC journalist Nihal Arthanayake also paid tribute to Kailash’s incredible drive and passion for the NHS.

Kailash’s son, cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhottra, had led the tributes on the day and stated: “This is the sternest test for me but I would like to celebrate Kailash’s illustrious life with an appropriate funeral service. You will all agree that my dad was a people’s person, the fiercest defender of the NHS, and for me the most amazing father and my best friend.” 

Rather than flowers the family asked for donations to the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity - which Kailash served as a trustee - to support the most vulnerable people in the city-region. You can make a donation at https://gmmayorscharity.co.uk/ 

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