Professor Richard Leach
Respiratory Medicine
Profile Summary
Qualifications
MBChB MD FRCP
Special Interests
Chest infection, Coughs, Asthma, Breathlessness, COPD, Post-viral syndrome fatigue, Obesity hypoventilation, Respiratory medicine, Nutrition, Weight issues, Complex multi-comorbid disease management, Post critical illness management, Critical care
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My Practice
I have 35 years’ experience of acute and outpatient general and respiratory medicine, including the diagnosis and management of the majority of medical problems.
I have additional expertise in complex multi-comorbid conditions and critically ill patients on intensive care.
Professional Biography
Professor Richard Leach is a Consultant Physician at King Edward VII's Hospital and has been a Consultant Physician at Guys and St Thomas Hospital Trust (GSTT) since 1994. {{ label }}
He is currently Clinical Director for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at GSTT and Clinical Academic Lead for Acute Medicine for KCL and was made an Honorary Reader in Medicine at Kings College London in 2015.
Previously, Professor Leach was Clinical Director for Acute Medicine from 2009-18. In the GSTT and Medway Foundation Trust (MFT) support collaboration he was an Associate Medical Director at MFT from 2015-18.
Professor Leach is on the European Specialist Registers for General (Internal), Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and has extensive experience as a general and respiratory physician contributing to both high dependency and intensive care medicine. He has sub-specialty interests in COPD, asthma, cough, respiratory failure, sarcoidosis, multiple co-morbidity conditions and critical care medicine.
- Additional Information
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COVID-19 Specific Projects / Groups
I have helped to manage and treat over 300 critically ill patients and have been involved in the respiratory follow-up of large numbers of post COVID-19 patients. My base NHS hospital has one of the highest survival rates for COVID-19 worldwide.
Career Highlights
My career highs include:
- Being a Reader in Medicine at Kings College Hospital
- Becoming Clinical Director for Medicine, Pulmonary and Critial Care Medicine at the largest NHS foundation Hospital for over 10 years
- Being a Physician to the Royal Household
- Gaining my Doctorate (MD) in Medicine
- Authoring 5 medical textbooks (many in their 3rd and 4th Editions)
- Undertaking a MRC Travelling Fellowship in Medicine to Johns Hopkins Hospital
Memberships
My memberships include:
- Medical Specialty Board at the Royal College of Physicians, 2013-18
- Chairman of the Nutrition Committee at the Royal College of Physicians, 2013-18)
- Academy of Royal Colleges Nutrition Committee, 2012-18
- National Clinical Governance Group Board, 2017- present
- South East Regional Advisor for the British Thoracic Society, 2010-17
- BTS Specialty Workforce Committee, 2010- 17
Training Positions
Training Boards in Medicine and Respiratory Medicine (2006- present):
- South London Programme Director for Respiratory Training 2007-13
- Respiratory Specialty Training Committee, 2008-13
- General (Internal) Medicine Specialty Training Committee, 2009-present
- Core Medical Specialty Training Committee (CMT1-2), 2007- 11
Cutting Edge Technologies
I have performed advanced ventilation techniques.
Publications
I have published 40 peer reviewed papers, 35 book chapters and invited reviews. A few examples:
- Leach RM, Crichton S, Morton N, Leach M, Ostermann M. Fluid Management Knowledge in Hospital Clinicians: ‘Greenshoots’ of improvement but still a cause for concern. Clinical Medicine 2020;Vol 20;3:e26-31.
- RM Leach et al. Supporting a hospital in difficulty. Future Healthcare Journal 2019;6 (1):6775.
- Leach RM, Brotherton A, Stroud M, Thompson RPHT. Nutrition and fluid balance must be taken seriously. BMJ 2013:346:801-804. Citations 18.
- FMK Williams, Chinn S, GRV Hughes, RM Leach. Critical illness in systemic lupus erythematosus and the antiphospholipid syndrome. Ann Rheum Dis 2002;61:414-21. Citations 41.
- Ambrose T, Cullen S, Baker G, Smith M, Elia M, Leach R, De Silva A. Obesity – a window of opportunity? Characteristics and management of morbidly obese adult inpatients in three Trusts in the South of England. Clinical Medicine 2013;13:1-5.
- RM Leach et al. Energy state, pH, and vasomotor tone during hypoxia. Am J Physiol 2000;278: L294-L304. Citations 62.
- RM Leach et al. Divergent roles of glycolysis; identity of the hypoxic sensor. J Physiol 2001; 536:211-224. Citations 175.
- ABC of Oxygen for the British Medical Journal: Citations 452.
- RM Leach, DF Treacher. Oxygen delivery and consumption in the critically ill. Thorax 2002;57: 170-7. Citations 137.
- RM Leach, AC Davidson, S Chinn, IR Cameron, NT Bateman. Portable liquid oxygen and exercise ability in severe respiratory disability. Thorax 1992;47:781-789. Citations 133.
- WR Gransden, RM Leach, SJ Eykyn. Neurological Presentations of Native Valve Endocarditis. Quarterly Journal of Medicine 1989;272:1135-1142.
Books I have published:
- Leach RM. Critical Care Medicine at a Glance (third edition). Wiley Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2004 (Revised and republished 2009 and 2015; ISBN-13: 978-1118302767). 17th bestseller for all Medical Reference Books; overall reader review score of 4.7/5 (73% 5 star, 19% 4 star on 26 reviews).
- Ward JPT, Ward J, Leach RM. The Respiratory System at a Glance. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2002, (Revised 2006, 2010, 2015; Fourth edition ISBN-13: 978-1118761076). (122nd for Medical Reference Books; overall reader review score of 4.4/5 (50% 5 star, 40% 4 star on 16 reviews).
- Leach RM. Acute and Critical Care Medicine at a Glance. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Oxford 2010.
- Leach RM, Kosky C, Hadley E, Lams B. Problem Solving in Respiratory Medicine and Allergy. Clinical Publishing, Oxford 2011.
- Leach RM, Bell D, Moore K. Oxford Desk Reference of Acute Medicine. Oxford University Publishing, Oxford. 2016, ISBN-13: 978-0199565979.
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