Ali Khavandi | Cardiologist | Bath

ABOUT

About

Dr Ali Khavandi is a Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at the Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Foundation Trust. He specialises in complex angioplasty and advanced rhythm device implantation. He is part of the Consultant team providing 24/7 emergency treatments for the regional heart attack service at the Bristol Heart Institute. Additionally he implants complex pacemakers and defibrillators at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon. He has a special interest in minimising pacemaker scars and the role of diet in cardiovascular conditions. This has lead to appearances on BBC Horizons and he currently writes on the subject of diet and health for the Observer.

General Cardiology

A modern, up-to-date approach

In his role as editor of the UK and European Core Cardiology textbooks, Ali remains fully up-to-date on the latest general cardiology evidence and guidelines. As such he provides a modern and efficient approach to the assessment of a broad range of cardiovascular symptoms and conditions including:

Chest pain and arterial disease
Palpitations, arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation
Loss of consciousness (syncope) or near blackouts (presyncope)
Structural conditions (murmurs, heart muscle and valvular problems)
Risk factor such as weight management, high blood pressure, cholesterol and family history
Non-invasive screening for cardiovascular conditions using modern techniques

Specialised Cardiology

Dual subspecialty expertise provides additional insight across a spectrum of cardiac conditions and treatments which are often linked

Coronary angioplasty

Ali is a contemporary, complex angioplasty operator who performs the majority of procedures via the radial artery (statistically the safest option). He has expertise and access to the full spectrum of modern techniques and adjuncts including rotational atherectomy, intravascular imaging, chronic total occlusion treatment and Laser assisted angioplasty (Laser unique to the region).

Complex rhythm device implantation

Ali has introduced this new service to Bath, which consists of resynchronization pacemakers for heart failure and implantable defibrillators. He implanted the first new generation ‘leadless’ defibrillator in Swindon and has a specialist interest in surgical techniques which improve outcomes, hide devices and minimise scars.

Personal & training history

Ali has Persian parents but was born and brought up in Bath. He went to school at King Edward’s where he received 4 As at A-level, played rugby in the winter, tennis in the summer and left with the prize for all round performance. He spent the majority of his childhood summers at Lansdown tennis club.

He went to University in Manchester, which culminated in the Professorial house job. Following this he trained in London and Bristol with the majority of cardiac training at the Bristol Heart Institute. His first consultant appointment was at the prestigious Royal Harefield and Brompton NHS Foundation Trust in London but the strong links to Bath brought him back in 2013.

He is married to Heidi, who is Sister of the Acute Medical Unit at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, and his daughter Ara was born in 2015.

Specialised Services

‘Hidden’ pacemaker implantation

Ali has a national profile for surgical skills training as relevant to Cardiologists. This has lead to close collaboration with plastic surgeons to establish techniques for minimisation of pacemaker scars and ‘hidden’ devices. This provides a relatively unique service for patients with options to revise previous unsightly scars or uncomfortable devices.

Integrated dietary approaches to weight & cardiovascular risk factors

Unusually for an interventional Cardiologist with profile and enthusiasm for advanced procedural treatments, Ali is equally passionate about the underlying causes, prevention, and contemporary solutions through an integrated diet and lifestyle approach.

As a food enthusiast he is founder of the Cardiologist’s Kitchen initiative and this has lead to hospital food improvement projects, engagement with the food industry (including the major supermarkets) and media. He has advised and appeared on BBC Horizon television series as an expert and national newspapers. He is currently writing articles and recipes for the Observer.

Clinically, Ali provides a tailored dietary prevention and weight management service for patients with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and associated condition such as atrial fibrillation, many of whom can significantly reduce their tablet medication burden, avoid more complex treatments and improve symptoms through simple dietary and lifestyle changes.

Read the Cardiologist's Kitchen blog

Consultation

NHS

NHS patients are seen at the Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Foundation Trust and all referrals are welcome via your general practitioner (either as a direct named referral or via the choose & book system).

Private

Ali is a founding partner of The Cardiac Clinic Bath. This new initiative provides a team based approach to private medicine. Instead of the traditional model where the patient will see an individual cardiologist with one skill-set and perspective, we offer a collaborative and complimentary approach. This gives you reassurance that you have access to the full spectrum of modern cardiology expertise - providing you the most effective diagnostic and treatment pathways.

Ali is a Fee assured recognised provider for all the major insurance companies. Please make contact with your insurance company and GP to arrange a referral including for the dietary-cardiovascular services.

Self-paying patients can make their own direct 'rapid access' appointment via the contact below. There is a fixed initial consultation fee and consideration will be made for the most efficient pathway including reintegration into NHS services if required.

Private clinics consultations are available at both Circle Bath Hospital and BMI Bath Clinic - please specify if you have a preference and preferred time slot (am-pm-evening-weekend).