Dr Knechtli underwent his specialist training in Clinical & Laboratory Haematology in the West Midlands and the Bristol/Bath area between 1991-2000. In the middle of this training, he spent 3 years 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 transplantation.

Because of his comprehensive training, and as a Consultant Haematologist in Bath since January 2000, Dr Knechtli has acquired extensive experience in managing all forms of haematological cancer (see below for further details on areas of interest/specialism). A further part of his expertise is in providing consultative advice of the possible abnormalities that can be seen in patients’ blood counts, clotting and other tests including advising on the peri-operative management of these abnormalities. Dr Knechtli also advises on the management of common clotting problems, especially those relating to thrombosis and anti coagulation. He is the principal investigator for several clinical trials at the Royal United Hospital Bath.

Dr Knechtli was 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 has led this until October 2013 when he was appointed Clinical Governance Lead for the Division of Medicine. He held this post until November 2018 and played a leading role in the development of the mortality review process from November 2017 to March 2020. He was appointed Trust Lead Medical Examiner in April 2020.

Dr Knechtli 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 Southwest Regional Cancer Drug Fund Panel from January 2011. Since 2005, Dr Knechtli has been a member of the Panel of Examiners for the Royal College of Pathologists which is responsible for ensuring that trainees in haematology meet the minimum standards to act as a Consultant. He has co-led the Autumn FRCPath part 2 examination since 2014.

Particular clinical interests/expertise:

1) Haematological cancer especially Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and other less common lymphoproliferative disorders, chronic myeloid leukaemia and other     myeloproliferative disorders eg polycythaemia and essential thrombocythaemia and lastly myelodysplasia.

2) Consultative haematology: advice on onward investigation and management relating to abnormal blood count, clotting and other results eg vitamin B12, folic acid etc.

• British Society for Haematology
• American Society of Haematology
• British Medical Association
• Medical Defence Union