Professor Paul Kalra

Practising at

Spire Portsmouth Hospital

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

Professional profile

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 14^th annual meeting in 2019.

Media Coverage

IRONMAN: a randomized study evaluating iron treatment for patients with heart failure

Taking steps to improve your health

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)

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

Owns 10% of the cardiology equipment he uses at Spire Portsmouth Hospital. (The remaining share of the equipment is owned by other clinicians).

Private contact details