An initial consultation with Dr Rakesh K Panchal is from £250.
Dr Rakesh K Panchal
Consultant Respiratory Physician and Honorary Associate Professor
MB ChB (Hons), MRes, MRCP (Respiratory Medicine), FRCP (London)
Specialises in
- Unexplained breathlessness, cough, wheeze, chest infection, pneumonia
- Asthma, COPD, Emphysema
- Bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis
- Lung cancer, bronchoscopy, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, TB
Also available for:
Virtual consultations:
I read medicine at the University of Leicester and qualified in 2003. I was awarded my degree with Honours and ranked first in my year. The prestigious Faculty of Medicine Gold Medal was awarded to me in acknowledgement of my outstanding academic excellence. I trained in respiratory medicine in the East Midlands region.
In 2010, I undertook a unique Darzi Clinical Leadership Fellowship to seek a strategy for screening and preventing TB in the UK that culminated in a Masters degree in Research Translational Management. These findings were published in the international journal 'Thorax'. I also spent time at the Global TB Institute in New York, USA and have presented at symposia in the US, Europe and the UK.
In 2013, I was appointed as a Consultant Respiratory Physician with an interest in Interventional Pulmonology at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester. I am a member of the Institute for Lung Health and am the lead clinician for the busy pleural diseases and interventional pulmonology tertiary services. I offer a popular Interventional Pulmonology Fellowship that has trained people from the UK and abroad. I trained in interventional procedures at Glenfield and have refined my skill set by attending courses across Europe, including medical thoracoscopy in Marseille and interventional bronchoscopy procedures in Germany.
I have an interest in all respiratory disorders and excel in the management of patients with a broad mix of conditions. I have a particular interest in pleural disease and interventional pulmonology. I perform thoracic ultrasound, pleural procedures including chest drains, medical thoracoscopy and indwelling pleural catheters and am an expert in EBUS bronchoscopy among other respiratory diagnostics.
I play an active role in both undergraduate and postgraduate education and am a College Tutor for the Royal College of Physicians. I am co-founder of the East Midlands Thoracic Society, sit on the East Midlands Specialist Training Committee and run practical training courses in pleural procedures.
I am passionate about caring for respiratory patients and run a busy clinical service that is acknowledged for its delivery of high-quality respiratory care in Leicestershire and across the East Midlands.
I am fluent in Gujarati and understand Hindi, both of which are very useful linguistic traits among the multicultural demographic of Leicester. As a result I often receive requests from patients seeking a consultation with a doctor who is familiar with their language and without the need for an interpreter.
General Medical Council Number: C6075477
Treatment information
Some of the principal treatments carried out by Dr Rakesh K Panchal at Spire include:
Respiratory medicine
Other treatments
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- COPD
- Cough
- Emphysema
- Interstitial lung disease
- Lung cancer
- Lung infections
- Pleural effusion
- Pneumonia
- Pneumothorax
- Sarcoidosis
- Tuberculosis
- Unexplained breathlessness
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Important information about COVID-19 tests
COVID-19 testing or antibody tests are not available as a standalone service at Spire Leicester Hospital.
Additional information
Clinical interests
Chest medicine
Lung cancer
Lung disease
Respiratory medicine
Respiratory pathology
Special clinical interests: Asthma, COPD, emphysema, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, cough, unexplained breathlessness, lung cancer, pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung infections, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, sarcoidosis.
Qualification and professional memberships
MB ChB (Honours) / University of Leicester / 2003
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
MRCP (UK) MRCP (London) / Royal College of Physicians, London. / 2006
Diploma, Member of the Royal College of Physicians.
MRes - Distinction / University of Leicester / 2013
Master of Research in Research Translational Management.
MRCP (Respiratory Medicine) / British Thoracic Society & Royal College of Physicians of London / 2013
Diploma, Member of the Royal College of Physicians, Respiratory Medicine.
FRCP / London / 2018
Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London
Professional memberships
World & European Association for Bronchology & Interventional Pulmonology (WABIP/EABIP)
British Thoracic Oncology Group (BTOG)
Royal College of Physicians, London
Professional leadership
Lead for Pleural Disease Service, UHL Glenfield Hospital
Lead for Bronchoscopy Service, UHL Glenfield Hospital
BTS/RCP East Midlands Regional Specialty Advisor
UHL Respiratory Workforce Lead
Current NHS posts
Consultant Respiratory Physician, Glenfield Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.
Honorary Associate Professor in Medical Education, University of Leicester.
Personal profile
I am originally from Coventry but now live in Leicester. I am married to a dermatologist and have young non-identical twins that keep me busy. I am interested in tennis, foreign travel, aviation and literature from the Indian sub-continent.
Contact information
| Telephone | For appointments at Spire Leicester 0116 265 3685 |
| Website | https://www.rakeshpanchal.com |
| Private secretary | Mrs Sue O'Gorman |
| Private secretary telephone | 0116 265 3678 |
| Private secretary email | susan.o'gorman@spirehealthcare.com |