Prof Rakhit is an expert in interventional cardiology performing PCI  (coronary angioplasty and stenting) for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The majority of his procedures are performed via the radial artery (wrist). This is a minimally invasive technique associated with fewer complications and faster patient recovery. As a consultant with over 20 years of experience he has performed over 5000 coronary interventional procedures. 

He has a major interest in the treatment of acute coronary syndrome (heart attack) and was instrumental in setting up the Royal Free Heart Attack Centre. This was one of the first units in the UK to provide 24/7 immediate angioplasty/stenting treatment for patients presenting with life-threatening heart attack. 

He has considerable experience in complex interventional coronary techniques including pressure wire, rotational atherectomy and intra-coronary imaging (intravascular ultrasound, and optical coherence tomography) which form part of his routine clinical practice and research expertise. He is interested in the relationship between heart disease and stroke, investigating younger patients presenting with cryptogenic (unexplained) stroke. 

The mainstay of his practice is general cardiology seeing patients with symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, heart murmurs dizzy spells and blackouts. He is skilled in the assessment and treatment of hypertension (blood pressure), raised lipids (cholesterol), arrhythmia including atrial fibrillation (disturbances of heart rhythm), heart failure (heart muscle weakness) and heart valve problems. He has a major clinical interest in early cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention for people concerned about heart disease.  

He research has focussed on the cellular response and role of inflammation in coronary artery disease, protection of the heart during heart attack, novel vascular imaging and patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease including diabetes, familial hyperlipidaemia, haemophilia and HIV. 

He is also interested in cardiac complications of COVID-19 and sees patients with long COVID. 

Prof Rakhit qualified in 1991 from Charing Cross & Westminster Medical School, Imperial College London, with a First Class honours intercalated degree in pharmacology. He began his general cardiology training in 1995 as a rotating cardiology registrar (fellow) at the Hammersmith, Royal Brompton and St. Marys hospitals. In 1998, funded by the Wellcome Trust, he completed a 2 year doctorate (MD thesis) at the Rayne Institute, St.Thomas` Hospital on the cellular physiology of nitric oxide in conferring myocardial protection against ischemia. In 2000 he was awarded a prestigious British Heart Foundation International Fellowship and undertook a further 1 year period of clinical research with advanced interventional training at the Swiss Cardiovascular Centre, Bern under the supervision of Prof. Bernhard Meier. 

In 2004 he was appointed as consultant cardiologist to the Royal Free Hospital & Honorary Senior Lecturer at University College London. In 2008 he was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology in 2019. In 2017 he was promoted to Associate Professor and in 2020 to Professor of Cardiology, at the Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London. 

As previous Clinical Director of Cardiology and Divisional Director of Cardiology & Vascular Surgery at the Royal Free London NHS Trust for he has considerable experience in leadership and service development.  He has also contributed nationally as elected member of council at the Royal College of Physicians UK. 

He is very patient focused and strongly believes in providing a high quality, evidence-based and individualised approach to patient care.  

Charing Cross & Westminster Medical School (Imperial College London)

Medical SHO rotation Hammersmith, Royal Brompton hospitals and National Hospital for Neurology, Queen Square

Cardiology Registrar training Hammersmith, Royal Brompton & St.Mary’s hospitals

Wellcome Clinical Research Fellow Rayne Institute St.Thomas’ Hospital (Kings College London) British Heart Foundation International Fellow Swiss Cardiovascular Centre, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland

CCT (Specialist Register) in Cardiology & General (Internal) Medicine UK

Consultant Interventional Cardiologist Royal Free Hospital

Professor of Cardiology Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

English

Availability for Consultations:

Thu: 2-6pm

N/A

Self Pay: Initial consult: £275 Follow up: £225

Insured: Initial consult: £275 Follow up: £225