Respiratory medicine in Northwood, Middlesex

Respiratory medicine is involved with the diagnosis and management of diseases affecting: 

• the lower respiratory tract (trachea, bronchi, and lungs) 
• the lining (pleura) of the lung and chest wall 
• some structures in the centre of the chest (these are known as mediastinal structures), such as the lymph glands 

Diseases and conditions affecting the respiratory system can be categorised as: 

• Allergic 
• Vascular
• Autoimmune  
• Inflammatory 
• Infective 
• Cancer 
• Idiopathic (unknown cause) 

Many respiratory problems can be frightening to experience. Whether you are struggling with frequent bouts of breathlessness or frustrated by a long-term cough, highly experienced Consultants at Bishops Wood Hospital in Northwood, Middlesex provide comprehensive assessment and treatment for people aged 18+. They would be delighted to help you too. 

Bishops Wood Hospital is located in Northwood in North West London, in the London Borough of Hillingdon. People visit us from local areas including Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Pinner, Ruislip and Amersham, as well as Uxbridge, Chalfont and Watford. We also welcome patients from across the UK as well as abroad. When you go private, you can choose which hospital and which consultant are the best fit for you. 

Please note that patients with symptoms or a diagnosis of Long COVID are best treated by specialist clinics established in Primary Care, not a Respiratory Consultant at Bishops Wood Hospital.  

Your respiratory system plays a crucial role in your health. A problem in any part of it can cause certain symptoms, including:  

• Breathlessness 
• Persistent coughing 
• Coughing up blood or sputum 
• Shallow or rapid breathing 
• Chest pain 
• Wheezing 

Common respiratory conditions that people visit us for help with include: 

Asthma – causes wheezing and shortness of breath. While many people find their asthma is well-controlled with appropriate treatment, an asthma attack is a life-threatening condition and requires urgent treatment.  

• Pneumonia – inflammation of the lungs
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Interstitial lung diseases – such as Pulmonary Fibrosis (scar tissue in the lungs)
• Lung cancer – unfortunately, this is one of the most common types of cancer, with around 47,000 people in the UK alone diagnosed with it every year.
• Bronchitis - inflammation of the airways in the lungs
• Bronchiectasis – abnormal enlargement of the airways causes a build-up of mucus. This can increase the risk of developing an infection 
• Sarcoidosis - an inflammatory condition that can lead to shortness of breath and/or a persistent cough 

Although a number of respiratory conditions cannot be cured, appropriate treatment can often be very effective at managing and controlling symptoms. 

• Treatments include: 
• Inhalers 
• Antibiotics 
• Steroids 
• Immune modulators. 

Treatment will always be tailored to your specific needs. To ensure you receive the optimal treatment, your Consultant at Bishops Wood Hospital may need to work closely with specialists in another area. For example, if a respiratory cause for chest pains has been ruled out, you may be referred to Cardiology for further investigation. 

Your first appointment at Bishops Wood Hospital will be focused on getting clarity about the cause of your symptoms. 

Most people are referred to us by their GP, another healthcare professional, or their private medical insurance provider. Other self-refer to avoid the delay in being seen through the NHS.

A medical referral is helpful, as it gives your Consultant easy access to your previous medical history and any recent or relevant test results, such as blood tests or a chest X-ray.

When you meet with your Consultant, they will talk with you in detail about the symptoms you have been experiencing. They will ask you questions like: 

• What symptoms do you have? 
• How long have you had these symptoms? 
• Do you have any pain in your chest? If so, can you describe it?  
• How are your symptoms affecting daily life? 
• Are there any things you are unable to do because of your symptoms? 
• Do you have a management plan already / are you currently receiving any type of treatment? 
• How is your general health? Do you have any underlying conditions?  

They will usually carry out a physical examination of your chest and any other relevant systems, using a stethoscope to listen to your lungs as you inhale and exhale. 

Further tests may be needed to aid diagnosis, including:   

• Chest X-ray 
• Lung Function Tests 
• Blood tests 
• Sleep studies 
• Analysis of available tests which may have been done previously 
• Computed Tomography (CT) of the chest  
• Bronchoscopy - a telescopic view of the airways under sedation, allowing capture of samples for analysis  
• Ultrasound (U/S) of the chest +/- guided drainage of fluid between the lung and chest wall 

While some of these can be carried out on-site, others will be arranged off-site for you. Where appropriate, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans and other advanced investigations can also be requested outside the hospital.  

Once a diagnosis has been made, your Consultant will discuss suitable treatment options with you. If you have any questions or concerns, they will be very happy to discuss these with you during your private appointment.  

Treatment for many respiratory conditions will often require monitoring and adjustment to deliver you the optimal benefits.  

We are ideally located for people living in and around Northwood, while good travel links makes it easy to visit from further afield in Middlesex and beyond.   

When you choose to visit Bishops Wood Hospital for help with your respiratory condition, you will benefit from: 

• Fast assessment by an expert – Certain chest and lung conditions respond best when diagnosed at an early stage. Earlier assessment and diagnosis mean you will be able to benefit from starting any treatment needed sooner. We can arrange a private Respiratory appointment for you without delay.  
• Consultant-led care – You will see the same Consultant for each visit and will never have to worry about being treated by a more junior doctor. Your Consultant will oversee every aspect of your care, from initial consultation and diagnosis through to treatment planning, treatment, and ongoing monitoring.  
• Personalised care – For respiratory health, there is no ‘one size fits all’ treatment. The best treatment for your condition will be one that is tailored to your specific requirements in order to successfully manage and treat your condition. 
• Flexible appointments – Although we can offer remote consultations by telephone or video call if required, most people appreciate having their appointment in the hospital itself. Private appointments are available throughout the week. 
• A multidisciplinary team – Your consultant is supported in their role by a wide variety of other healthcare professionals including radiologists, physiotherapists, nurses, and oncologists who work on-site at Bishops Wood Hospital. Fast, easy access to any member of this multidisciplinary team means you will always see the most appropriate person for your specific needs. Particularly complex respiratory cases can be discussed with other specialists in order to formulate the very best treatment plan for you. 
• Recommended by patients – In an independent survey, 94.1% of the people we treated said they were likely or highly likely to recommend us to their friends and family.  
• Location - Bishops Wood Hospital is a 42-bed acute care unit, located within the grounds of Mount Vernon Hospital. It is easy to travel to us and our on-site car park has free parking for visitors.  

If you would appreciate expert guidance and support for a respiratory condition, whether new or pre-existing, why not book your Respiratory appointment now? We look forward to welcoming you to Bishops Wood Hospital soon and helping to improve your respiratory health.