CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Respiratory medicine
Expert lung care, tailored to you
- Same-day diagnosis for a range of respiratory conditions
- State-of-the-art imaging techniques and technology
- Focused and holistic treatment to help you live a full life
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RESPIRATORY MEDICINE AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
With HCA UK, you can be sure that you’re in skilled, experienced hands. Our dedicated consultants treat a wide range of respiratory issues, using the latest onsite imaging technology. Whether you’re coming in for initial tests or managing an ongoing condition, you’ll receive personalised care at every stage.
Our respiratory medicine specialists will work closely with consultants from other specialisms, including cardiothoracic surgery, thoracic surgery, oncology and ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery, to ensure the very best care for your lungs and respiratory system.
Our respiratory medicine specialists will work closely with consultants from other specialisms, including cardiothoracic surgery, thoracic surgery, oncology and ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery, to ensure the very best care for your lungs and respiratory system.
40+specialist respiratory consultants
8+treatment locations
24 hoursor less to get an appointment
Multi-disciplinary teams
Including respiratory physiotherapists and speech therapists
Tailored, personalised care
Treatment plans designed to meet your specific needs
On-site diagnostic facilities
Delivering accurate, same-day results for respiratory complaints
RESPIRATORY MEDICINE SERVICES
Comprehensive testing and treatment
Regardless of your condition, medical history or referral status, our skilled consultants are here to help with every aspect of your lungs and respiratory system. From initial explorations such as a Lung Health Check through to complex treatment for advanced or ongoing conditions, you’ll receive a high level of care tailored specifically to you.
- Ion™ robotic lung nodule biopsy
- Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)
- Bronchoscopy
- Bronchial challenge test
- Test for asthma
- Paediatric respiratory service
- Spirometry
- Full lung function
- Bronchodilator response studies (reversibility)
- FeNO (fractional exhaled nitric oxide)
- MIPs/MEPs – respiratory muscle weakness testing
- Mannitol challenge (Brocho-provocation study)
- Cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET)
- Hypoxic challenge test (fitness-to-fly/O2 assessment)
- Capillary blood gases
- Dysfunctional Breathing assessment/hyperventilation studies
- Skin prick allergy tests
- 6-minute walk test
- Exercise induced bronchoconstriction/asthma assessment
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all of our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll give you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR LUNG CARE JOURNEY
What to expect
We want you to feel comfortable and confident in your care from the very first time you get in touch with us, and we’re dedicated to keeping you fully informed at every stage of your treatment.
Lung conditions can vary hugely both in terms of their severity and their treatment. Our respiratory medicine specialists can help with diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of conditions. Every patient is different, and we’ll treat your condition individually, but this will give you a good idea of what to expect from the process.
If you have any questions that aren’t answered here or in the FAQ section below, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team will be happy to help.
Lung conditions can vary hugely both in terms of their severity and their treatment. Our respiratory medicine specialists can help with diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of conditions. Every patient is different, and we’ll treat your condition individually, but this will give you a good idea of what to expect from the process.
If you have any questions that aren’t answered here or in the FAQ section below, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team will be happy to help.
01
Initial assessment
Whether you self-refer or have a referral from a GP, the first step is an initial consultation with one of our respiratory consultants. They’ll talk to you in detail about your general health, your personal and family medical history, your lifestyle and any specific concerns you have with your lungs or breathing. If you have an ongoing lung condition, they’ll also talk to you in detail about past treatment and management.
02
Tests and scans
Your lungs and respiratory system are complex, and there’s a wide range of possible tests and scans to help diagnose or assess your condition. Your consultant may be able to carry those out during your initial consultation or they may schedule them for a later date. They may also require input from other consultants in different specialisms such as oncology or ear, nose and throat (ENT).
If a test or scan shows that you may have one or more nodules on your lungs, your specialist will want to conduct a further diagnostic investigation with a biopsy. Our Iung service is the best possible way to assess any nodules. We’ll use an ultra-thin robotic catheter and advanced manoeuvrability to let us navigate far into your peripheral lung to reach any lung nodules.
Your consultant will discuss your results and talk you through any recommended treatment in detail.
If a test or scan shows that you may have one or more nodules on your lungs, your specialist will want to conduct a further diagnostic investigation with a biopsy. Our Iung service is the best possible way to assess any nodules. We’ll use an ultra-thin robotic catheter and advanced manoeuvrability to let us navigate far into your peripheral lung to reach any lung nodules.
Your consultant will discuss your results and talk you through any recommended treatment in detail.
03
Treatment
Your treatment will depend on your condition and the results of your diagnosis, and could include lifestyle changes, non-invasive interventions, medication or surgery. Your consultant will discuss your treatment in detail and help you prepare for any procedures. Whether your condition requires low-level management or urgent intervention such as surgery, you’ll receive fully personalised, one-to-one care from our specialist team.
04
Follow-up care and recovery
You’ll have a dedicated team on hand to advise you about the best ways to manage your recovery should that be needed, and you’ll get detailed advice about any follow-up care programmes, medication or lifestyle changes that can help you recover as fast as possible. We’re here for you.
Our locations
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Physicians' Clinic
14 Devonshire Street W1G 7AE London
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road SW1W 8RH London
Lung Nodule Clinic
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place St John's Wood NW8 9LE London
Chiswick Outpatients
Bond House 347-353 Chiswick High Road W4 4HS London
The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2TQ Birmingham
Respiratory medicine FAQ
None, respiratory medicine specialists, pulmonologists and pneumologists are different names for the same specialism in respiratory medicine, which focuses on diagnosing, treating and managing problems that can affect your lungs and airways.
These problems can range from common medical conditions such as asthma and allergies to complex diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Experts specialising in this field are also sometimes called respiratory medicine specialists or lung specialists, as well as pulmonologists or pneumologists. They all share similar expertise and skill sets, although different consultants will specialise in treating different conditions.
Thoracic medicine is a specialism that focuses on conditions that affect your lungs, the lining of your lungs and sometimes the wall of your chest. That can include respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), infections such as tuberculosis and pneumonia, as well as lung cancers or other chest diseases.
Throat problems are usually diagnosed and treated by our specialist Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) consultants, called otolaryngologists. You can find out more about this specialism and how they can help you here.
However, at HCA UK we believe in working in multi-disciplinary teams across specialisms to deliver the best results for each individual patient. So, if you have a condition that affects both your respiratory system and your throat, our expert teams will work together to deliver the best possible outcome for you.
Our respiratory specialists also often work closely with their fellow experts in cardiothoracic surgery, thoracic surgery and oncology.
Some common symptoms of respiratory illness include shortness of breath, a persistent cough, chest discomfort or problems with snoring. If you have any concerns about your breathing or lung health, get in touch and we can help.
Yes, asthma is a common condition that we see in our clinics. Rest assured that we have several specialists who specialise in diagnosing and treating conditions relating to asthma.
Asthma is a very common condition, but it can vary in severity and symptoms. In order to diagnose asthma and provide the specific treatment and management advice you may need, there’s a range of tests we can carry out.
These include:
These include:
- FeNO testing or Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide test is a way to assess the level of inflammation in your lungs. As you breathe out, your lungs release nitric oxide, and there are raised levels if your lungs are inflamed. The test involves breathing into a mouthpiece that measures nitric oxide levels.
- Spirometry is a test that involves forcing as much air out of your lungs as you can in one breath and measuring how much air you can expel and how fast. It can show whether your lungs are inflamed or narrowed and help assess how well inhaled medications are working.
- Exercise-induced asthma test is a way to test for a form of asthma that is triggered by exercise. After a spirometry test to provide a baseline for your lung function, you’ll do a short burst of exercise on a treadmill or exercise bike, before repeating the initial test at intervals to see if your lungs have become inflamed.
Our patients’ stories
Nick's story: Getting back on my feet after a rare thymoma diagnosis
In November 2020, Nick Farrow was due to undergo surgery at Norwich Hospital, but in a tale with many twists and turns, he instead underwent robotic thoracic surgery at London Bridge Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK. Here, Nick shares his healthcare journey with us, and how fortunate he feels that he was able to benefit from the unique expertise of The London Bridge Thoracic Services team at London Bridge Hospital when he needed it most.
“I had a really comprehensive and empathetic initial consultation, with very clear instructions of how to maintain my condition going forward. This allowed me to recover within weeks, whereas I had struggled for almost 9 months without any solution.”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.