Mr Alan Doherty
MB BS, BSc, MD, FRCS (Urol), FEBU
GMC: 3279241
- MB BS – University of London (1988)
- FRCS (Urol) – Royal College of Surgeons (1992)
- BSc; MD; FEBU
- British Association of Urological Surgeons
- European Association of Urology
- American Urological Association
A UK leader in prostate cancer care
Alan is a Consultant Urologist and he completed his undergraduate training at The Middlesex Hospital before undergoing his surgical training at the Royal Marsden and Charing Cross Hospitals in London. Mr Doherty also studied at The Institute of Urology before taking up his position as a consultant urologist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, the largest urological cancer centre in the West Midlands, in 2001.
Mr Doherty’s commitment to using minimally invasive techniques based upon precision diagnostics where appropriate includes all major specialties in urological surgery, including laparoscopic cystectomy (bladder removal) and laparoscopic nephrectomy (kidney removal), both of which are only performed by a small number of UK surgeons. He has published extensively on prostate cancer, including articles in the Lancet.
Alan believes that focal therapy is a valuable option for the care of early prostate cancer and that it may be preferable to the active surveillance protocol for some men.
Mr Doherty was recently voted one of the UK’s top ten prostate cancer surgeons in a poll of urologists for the Daily Mail.
Hear what Mr Alan Doherty has to say about Focal Therapy
Professional Qualifications
- MBBS, University of London – 1988
- FRCS (Urol), Royal College of Surgeons of England – 1992
Professional Affiliations
- General Medical Council
- British Association of Urological Surgeons
- European Association of Urology
- American Urological Association
Current Appointment
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham
- Birmingham BMI The Priory Hospital
- Spire Parkway, Solihull
- Spire Little Aston Hospital, Birmingham
- Nuffield Health, Warwickshire
- The New Foscote Hospital, Banbury
- GenesisCare, Oxford
Professional Profiles
- BAUS Surgical Outcomes: British Association of Urological Surgeons (GMC: 3279241)
- Birmingham Prostate Clinic Profile: Birmingham Prostate Clinic (His Clinic Site)
- Spire Healthcare Profile: Spire Healthcare (GMC: 3279241, One Review)
- BUPA Finder Profile: Bupa Finder (GMC: 3279241)
- GenesisCare Profile: GenesisCare UK (Top 10 UK Specialist)
- HCA Healthcare Profile: HCA Healthcare UK (GMC: 3279241, 5/5 Rating via Doctify)
- Top Doctors Profile: Top Doctors (GMC: 3279241, Top 10 UK Specialist)
- MyHealthSpecialist Profile: MyHealthSpecialist (GMC: 3279241, Peer Endorsements)
- GFCT Association: Good Food for Cancer Trust (Top 10 UK Specialist)
Research and publications
Learn more about Focal Therapy and Prostate Cancer
Finasteride and prostate cancer: what evidence shows
8 Prostate Cancer Myths Debunked – UK Specialist Guide
What Causes Prostate Cancer Inequality in the UK – and What You Can Do?
Frequently Asked Questions About Mr Alan Doherty
What is Mr Alan Doherty's experience in prostate cancer treatment?
Mr Alan Doherty is a Consultant Urological Surgeon with 37 years of experience and over 3,500 prostatectomies performed. He has been a consultant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham since 2001 and is Clinical Lead at the Birmingham Prostate Clinic. He was voted one of the UK's top ten prostate cancer specialists in a national poll of consultant urologists.
What qualifications does Mr Alan Doherty hold?
Mr Doherty holds MB BS from the University of London (1988), FRCS (Urol) from the Royal College of Surgeons (1992), BSc, MD (Doctor of Medicine research doctorate), and FEBU (Fellow of the European Board of Urology). His GMC number is 3279241.
What focal therapy treatments does Mr Doherty offer?
Mr Doherty offers HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound) and NanoKnife IRE (Irreversible Electroporation) as focal therapy options for prostate cancer. He believes focal therapy is a valuable option for early prostate cancer and may be preferable to active surveillance for some men. In more than 50% of cases where a prostatectomy has been recommended, focal therapy can be a viable alternative.
Where does Mr Alan Doherty practice?
Mr Doherty practises at several hospitals in the Birmingham and West Midlands region: The Harborne Hospital (HCA UK), Spire Little Aston Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, The Priory Hospital in Edgbaston, Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull, and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. He is also Clinical Lead at the Birmingham Prostate Clinic.
What is the ProtecT trial and how is Mr Doherty involved?
The ProtecT trial is one of the most comprehensive prostate cancer treatment comparison studies ever conducted, comparing active monitoring, surgery, and radiotherapy over 10-15 years. Mr Doherty was a contributor to this landmark research, with findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and BJU International.
Is NanoKnife a safe treatment for prostate cancer?
According to Mr Doherty, NanoKnife is considered safe when performed by experienced specialists. It uses precisely controlled electrical pulses between electrodes to target and destroy cancer cells while preserving surrounding healthy tissue. Intensive monitoring and deep understanding of the equipment are essential for safe outcomes. NanoKnife is approved under NICE interventional procedure guidance IPG768.
Can focal therapy replace a prostatectomy?
Mr Doherty explains that in more than 50% of cases where a prostatectomy has been recommended, focal therapy can be a viable alternative — particularly for cancers with a Gleason score below 8. Focal therapy offers a minimally invasive approach that preserves quality of life while providing effective cancer control. However, suitability depends on individual factors including cancer grade, location, and patient preferences.
What other prostate treatments does Mr Doherty offer besides focal therapy?
Beyond HIFU and NanoKnife focal therapy, Mr Doherty offers GreenLight XPS laser prostate surgery (he is a national trainer), UroLift and Rezum water vapour therapy for benign prostate enlargement, nerve-sparing prostatectomy, TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate), and template mapping and fusion biopsies for prostate cancer diagnosis.
How do I decide which prostate cancer treatment is right for me?
Mr Doherty advises spending time prioritising what matters most to you. Key factors to consider include: certainty of cancer cure, preserving erectile function, risk of incontinence, recovery time, and returning to normal activities. Different patients place different levels of importance on each factor. Mr Doherty's approach focuses on understanding what you want and matching that with the treatment options available.
How do I book a consultation with Mr Alan Doherty?
You can book a consultation with Mr Alan Doherty by calling The Focal Therapy Clinic on +44 (0) 207 036 8870 or by visiting the contact page at thefocaltherapyclinic.co.uk/contact/. Mr Doherty sees patients at several hospitals across Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Any questions?
If you’ve got any questions about your prostate cancer diagnosis or want to know more about HIFU or NanoKnife, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly, knowledgeable team.
Contact the team
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