Dr Raj Malhotra

Dr Rajiv Malhotra is a Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine and expert witness at Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust, where he has served as a Consultant Anaesthetist and Pain Specialist since 2015. His principal areas of clinical expertise include the assessment and management of chronic and acute pain, with particular interests in neuropathic pain, spinal pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), post-surgical pain, nerve injury and degenerative musculoskeletal conditions.

His current practice is centred on assessing patients with persistent pain conditions, including back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis and traumatic pain syndromes such as whiplash, before developing comprehensive treatment plans using both conservative and interventional approaches. He performs a wide range of specialist pain procedures, including epidural injections, nerve blocks, trigger point injections, radiofrequency ablation and targeted injections for shoulder and knee arthritis, with a focus on improving pain control and functional outcomes.

Alongside his clinical work, Dr Malhotra holds regional leadership responsibilities as Regional Advisor for Pain Medicine training within the Mersey region for the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and serves as Clinical Governance Lead for his department, supporting high standards of clinical practice and patient safety. He also contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate education as an Honorary Clinical Lecturer and remains actively engaged in research within pain medicine. 

Dr Rajiv Malhotra has undertaken medico-legal work since 2023, accepting instructions in clinical negligence, personal injury and criminal matters. His practice is focused on providing independent expert opinion in cases involving chronic pain, neuropathic pain and complex spinal and musculoskeletal pain conditions. He prepares screening, breach of duty, causation and condition and prognosis reports, drawing on his specialist expertise in the assessment and management of pain arising from degenerative disease, trauma, nerve injury, complex regional pain syndrome, post-surgical pain and related conditions. Dr Malhotra currently accepts claimant instructions and provides evidence-based opinions for adults aged 18 years and over. His reports assist solicitors in evaluating liability, causation and the ongoing impact of pain conditions on an individual's presentation and prognosis.

Dr Malhotra’s clinical practice is centred on the assessment and management of patients with complex acute and chronic pain conditions, with a particular focus on neuropathic pain, spinal pain and pain arising from degenerative and traumatic disorders. He regularly assesses patients presenting with persistent back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, sciatica, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), nerve injuries and pain following surgery, tailoring treatment plans to the underlying cause and severity of their symptoms.

A significant part of his clinical work involves delivering interventional pain management procedures designed to reduce pain and improve function. These include epidural injections, caudal epidural injections, peripheral nerve blocks, trigger point injections and radiofrequency ablation, together with targeted injections for shoulder and knee arthritis. His practice combines detailed clinical assessment with image-guided and minimally invasive techniques to manage patients whose symptoms have not responded to conservative treatment. In addition to direct patient care, he plays an active role in maintaining clinical standards through departmental clinical governance and contributes to the development of pain medicine through research, publication and the training of future specialists. 

Dr Malhotra contributes to pain medicine through research, teaching and academic practice. He is an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the University of Liverpool and has published multiple peer-reviewed papers covering pain medicine, regional anaesthesia and fibromyalgia. His academic contributions are complemented by recognised achievements, including Royal College of Anaesthetists prizes, reflecting his expertise and standing within the specialty.