Professor Ben Parker
Consultant Rheumatologist and MAHSC Honorary Clinical Chair
MBChB (Honours), PhD, MRCP
I am a Consultant Rheumatologist at Spire Manchester Hospital and The Kellgren Centre for Rheumatology, Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) and MAHSC Honorary Clinical Chair in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at University of Manchester and Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
I provide a full, general rheumatology service including diagnosis and treatment of early inflammatory arthritis, long-term management of the inflammatory arthritides (such as rheumatoid arthritis), diagnosis and management of gout, and care of non-inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis, and soft tissue disorders.
I specialise in the management of complex connective tissue diseases, specifically systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and vasculitis, providing a regional, tertiary specialist rheumatology service for the North West of England. I also manage the award-winning biologics service at MRI.
After attending medical school in Liverpool and medical training in Australia and Manchester, I completed my specialist rheumatology training in the North West. During this time I secured an Arthritis Research UK Clinical Research Fellowship in 2009 to investigate cardiovascular co-morbidity in SLE and was awarded a PhD by the University of Manchester in 2012.
I am actively involved in clinical research, overseeing several projects in the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre that investigate treatment, co-morbidity and outcomes in SLE. I have authored many original research articles, review articles and several book chapters and presented at national and international rheumatology conferences. I also act as Principal Investigator on several early phase clinical trials in Lupus, based at the Kellgren Centre for Rheumatology, and have been a member of British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) since 2014. I was appointed Medical Director at the NHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility (MCRF) at Manchester Royal Infirmary in July 2018, and since 2022 have been Co-Director of the MCRF.
I have been a member of the BSR Clinical Affairs Committee and acted on their behalf as a clinical expert for several NICE technology appraisals and the 2018 clinical guideline in rheumatoid arthritis. I am co-author of the Greater Manchester biologic prescribing pathways for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis and am on the abstract selection committee for the British Society for Rheumatology and act as reviewer for several international journals.
Treatment information
Some of the principal treatments carried out by Professor Ben Parker at Spire include:
Rheumatology
- CT scan
- Joint pain treatment (joint injections)
- MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging scan)
- Ultrasound scan
- X-ray
Other treatments
- Blood tests
- Referral for physiotherapy
- Soft tissue injections
Get in touch
Important information about Covid-19 tests
COVID-19 testing or antibody tests are not available as a standalone service at Spire Manchester Hospital.
Additional information
Clinical interests
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatology
Rheumatoid arthritis
Special clinical Interests: gout, systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis.
Qualification and professional memberships
MBChB (Honours) / University of Liverpool / 2000
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
MRCP / Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh) / 2005
Membership of Royal College of Physicians
PhD / University of Manchester / 2012
Doctor of Philosophy
CCT (Rheumatology) / GMC / 2013
Certificate of Completion of Training in Rheumatology
FRCP / Royal College of Physicians (London) / 2017
Fellow of Royal College of Physicians
MAHSC Honorary Clinical Chair / University of Manchester and Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust / 2023
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Professional memberships
British Society for Rheumatology
Professional leadership
Clinical Lead for Specialist Service and Biologics Service, Kellgren Centre for Rheumatology, Manchester Royal Infirmary
Co-Director, NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility
Member, NICE Clinical Guideline Committee for Rheumatoid Arthritis NG100
Member, NICE Clinical Guideline Committee for Rheumatoid Arthritis NG100
Clinical Expert, NICE Technology Appraisal 375 and 415
Current NHS posts
Consultant Rheumatologist, Kellgren Centre for Rheumatology, Manchester Royal Infirmary
MAHSC Honorary Clinical Chair, University of Manchester and MFT
Personal profile
I have a busy family life and in my spare time enjoy the outdoors and am a keen skier.
Contact information
| Website | https://www.rheumatologymanchester.co.uk/ |
| Private secretary | Ms Karen Winterburn |
| Private secretary telephone | 07763 534 936 |
| Private secretary email | parkerrheumatology@outlook.com |