Professor Paul Kalra
Consultant Cardiologist
MA MB BChir MD FRCP
Specialises in
I graduated from Cambridge University and started as a Consultant Cardiologist at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust in 2004.
In 2019 I was appointed as Honorary Professor of Cardiology. The majority of my work involves assessment, investigation, and management of patients with known or suspected cardiac (heart) problems. This includes patients with symptoms of breathlessness, palpitations and chest pain. While I have a broad interest in all aspects of general adult cardiology, my sub-specialty interest is the assessment and management of patients with heart failure (where the heart doesn’t work efficiently as a pump).
I have championed local heart failure service development and co-developed the local complex device service, initiating implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy device (CRT) implantation and follow up. I have extensive experience in the assessment of patients for consideration and the implantation of pacemakers and complex devices (CRT and ICD).
I was elected Chair of the British Society for Heart Failure (BSH) 2017-2019, having been on the board since 2009 (now past chair). This is the national body providing expert advice, support, and education to NHS organisations and healthcare professionals. In 2019 the UK’s largest heart failure patient charity, Pumping Marvellous Foundation, presented me with the Platinum patient educator award – recognising extraordinary work towards building awareness of heart failure and advocacy of better systems to improve care for patients.
I am committed to medical education and help organise regular national meetings (see www.bsh.org.uk and www.cardiorenalforum.com) for hospital doctors, GPs and specialist nurses. I actively contribute to education of cardiology trainees through roles within national (British Cardiovascular Society, BSH) and international (European Society for Cardiology) societies.
I have a major research interest and set up and lead the Portsmouth Cardiology research team. I am Chief Investigator (lead) for a large British Heart Foundation-funded study evaluating the role of intravenous iron in patients with heart failure (IRONMAN – 75 UK centres), which has the potential to shape international guidelines and clinical practice. I have over 100 peer-review publications and edited a textbook ‘Specialist Training in Cardiology’ which was Highly Commended in the BMA Medical Book Competition. I have a longstanding clinical and research interest in cardiorenal disease and co-founded the UK Cardiorenal Forum, which held its 14th annual meeting in 2019.
Treatment information
Some of the principal treatments carried out by Professor Paul Kalra at Spire include:
Cardiology
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Exercise ECG
- Cholesterol level test
- Pacemaker implantation
- Cardioversion
Other treatments
• 24-hour blood pressure assessment
• Ambulatory monitor (24-hour tape or longer periods of monitoring)
• Echocardiogram
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Additional information
Clinical interests
Qualification and professional memberships
BA (Hons) / Churchill College, Cambridge University / 1989
Medicine
MB BChir / Cambridge University / 1992
Clinical Medicine
MRCP / London / 1995
Member of the Royal College of Physicians
FRCP / London / 2007
Senior membership of the Royal College of Physicians
MD / Imperial College, University of London / 2009
Doctor of Medicine
Professional memberships
British Cardiovascular Society
British Society for Heart Failure
Royal College of Physicians (London)
Research and publications
Current NHS posts
Consultant Cardiologist and Honorary Professor of Cardiology, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Portsmouth
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow
Personal profile
My main interests outside medicine are focused around sports and in particular football, cricket, cycling and golf (active participation but an increasing amount of time watching children participate). With my wife Sian and three young sons (not forgetting Merlin the dog), I also enjoy spending time walking and reading literature for the under 10s!
Financial interests
Contact information
| Website | http://www.portsmouthcardiac.co.uk |
| Private secretary | Carol Longland / Alison Moore |
| Private secretary telephone | 0239 245 6050 / 0239 200 3932 |
| Private secretary email | carol.longland@spirehealthcare.com / amppsec@gmail.com |