Dr Christopher Knechtli

Dr Knechtli underwent his general training in Clinical & Laboratory Haematology in the West Midlands and the Bristol/Bath area. In the middle of this training, he spent a 3 year period as a Research Fellow developing the use of the polymerase chain reaction to amplify immunoglobulin and T cell receptor genes as a means of assessing minimal residual disease in the bone marrow of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia before and after allogeneic stem cell (bone marrow) transplantation. Dr Knechtli spends most of his time treating patients with various forms of haematological cancer (mainly lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and chronic myeloid leukaemia) but also has a busy practice advising patients on non-malignant haematological conditions (including anaemia, low platelet counts, myeloproliferative disorders and myelodysplasia as well as common coagulation problems esp. issues relating to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus). Since his appointment as a Consultant Haematologist in Bath in January 2000, he was appointed as Clinical Director for Oncology & Haematology, a post that he held for 10 years until October 2010. He set up the Oncology & Haematology Clinical Governance Committee in March 2001 and led it until he was appointed Clinical Governance Lead for the Division of Medicine (Nov 2013 - Nov 2018). He was appointed to the role of Trust Lead Medical Examiner from April 2020-June 2024 to provide oversight of patients who have died and support for their relatives. He was elected chairman of the Avon, Somerset & Wiltshire Cancer Services Haematology Site Specialist Group from December 2001 to July 2006. He was a regular member of the South West Regional Cancer Drug Fund Panel from its inception in January 2011. He has been a member of the Panel of Examiners' for the Royal College of Pathologists since 2005. This group is responsible for ensuring that trainees in haematology meet the minimum standards to act as a Consultant.

1) Haemato-oncology esp. leukaemia and lymphoma 2) General haematology e.g. abnormal blood count findings 3) Common disorders of haemostasis & thrombosis