Respiratory consultation (Respiratory medicine specialist consultation)
An appointment with a lung specialist to assess breathing symptoms such as cough or breathlessness, work out the cause, and plan any tests or treatment.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- It is an assessment to find the cause of breathing symptoms and plan care — not a treatment in itself.
- A first appointment may not give a firm diagnosis; tests or a period of monitoring are often needed.
- What happens next depends on your symptoms — breathing tests, scans or blood tests may be arranged.
- Some breathing symptoms can be serious, so urgent or worsening symptoms should not wait for a routine appointment.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your specialist will give you advice for your situation.
A thorough, specialist assessment of your breathing symptoms
Using a routine appointment for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms that need urgent or emergency care.
History, examination and a discussion of likely causes. Some breathing tests or oxygen checks may be done on the day.
A clear written plan and a clinic letter shared with you and your GP.
History, examination and a discussion of likely causes. Some breathing tests or oxygen checks may be done on the...
Any tests that were arranged — breathing tests, blood tests or scans — are booked or carried out.
Results are reviewed, often at a follow-up appointment or by letter, and the plan is confirmed or adjusted.
If treatment is begun, you are told what to expect, how to use it and when to seek help.
What is a respiratory consultation?
A respiratory consultation is an appointment with a respiratory physician — a doctor who specialises in the lungs and breathing. People are usually seen for symptoms such as a long-lasting cough, breathlessness, wheeze, chest tightness, recurrent chest infections or an abnormal chest X-ray.
The consultation is about understanding your symptoms. The specialist takes a detailed history, examines you, and decides whether tests are needed — for example breathing (lung function) tests, a chest X-ray, a CT scan or blood tests. Together you agree what to do next.
It is a step towards a diagnosis and plan, not a treatment in itself. Sometimes the cause is clear at the first visit; often it takes tests, and occasionally a period of monitoring, before things become clear.
A single appointment may not give a firm answer straight away. Its value is a careful assessment, the right tests and a sensible plan, rather than an instant diagnosis.
Types, options & approaches
There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.
Options at a glance
These are the main approaches described in this guide. The right option depends on the diagnosis, your goals and what your clinician thinks is safe.
First (new patient) consultation
A longer appointment to take a full history, examine you and decide on tests. This is where the main assessment happens.
Follow-up consultation
A shorter appointment to review test results, check how treatment is working and adjust the plan.
Symptom-specific clinics
Some services run focused clinics, for example for chronic cough, breathlessness, asthma or sleep-related breathing problems.
Consultation with tests on the day
Some appointments include breathing tests such as spirometry, or oxygen-level checks, during or straight after the visit.
Preparing for your appointment
- Write down your main symptoms, when they started, what makes them better or worse, and how they affect daily life.
- Bring a list of all your medicines and inhalers, including how often you actually use them.
- Note your smoking history and any exposures at work or home, such as dust, fumes, asbestos or pets.
- Bring any previous results, X-rays, scans or clinic letters, or arrange for them to be available.
- Note relevant family history, such as asthma, lung disease or clotting problems.
- If you use a peak flow meter or symptom diary, bring the readings.
- Think about your questions and what you hope to get from the appointment.
What happens
The specialist asks in detail about your symptoms, general health, medicines, smoking and any exposures, then examines you — usually listening to your chest, checking your breathing and oxygen level, and looking for other signs.
Depending on what they find, they may arrange tests such as breathing (lung function) tests, a chest X-ray or CT scan, or blood tests. Some breathing tests can be done at the same visit; others are booked separately. They explain what each test is for.
You then discuss what the likely causes are and agree a plan. This might be starting or changing treatment, arranging tests, monitoring symptoms, or referral for further input. You usually receive a letter summarising the visit, and it is sent to your GP.
Is this appointment right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- Using a routine appointment for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms that need urgent or emergency care.
- Expecting a firm diagnosis on the day when tests or monitoring are clearly needed first.
- Booking a consultation when symptoms point clearly to another specialty, where direct referral would be better.
- Relying on a private consultation while leaving your GP and previous results out of the loop.
Delay or rearrange if…
- You have an acute chest infection that should be treated and allowed to settle before some assessments.
- Key previous results or imaging are missing and would change the assessment.
- You are unable to attend or complete tests, for example due to acute illness.
- Urgent symptoms mean you actually need same-day assessment, not a routine clinic slot.
Alternatives to discuss
- Assessment and initial tests through your GP, with referral only if needed.
- An NHS respiratory referral rather than private care.
- A symptom-specific clinic, such as a chronic cough or breathlessness service.
- Urgent or emergency care for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Benefits
- A thorough, specialist assessment of your breathing symptoms
- A clear plan for any tests needed to find the cause
- Advice on managing symptoms while investigations are arranged
- The chance to start or adjust treatment where the cause is clear
- Reassurance, or early identification of conditions that need attention
- Joined-up care through a letter to you and your GP
Risks & complications
- Not getting a firm diagnosis at the first visit
- Needing further tests, which take time and may involve separate appointments
- Uncertainty while waiting for results
- Discussing topics that may be worrying, such as the possibility of serious conditions
- Tests leading to incidental findings that need further investigation
- A plan that changes once results come back
- Differences of opinion between clinicians, sometimes prompting a second opinion
- A serious diagnosis being identified that needs urgent treatment
- Delay if important previous results are missing and have to be chased
The main limitation is that a consultation is an assessment, not an instant answer — many breathing problems need tests or monitoring before the cause is clear. The most important safety point is timing: breathing symptoms such as severe breathlessness, coughing up blood, chest pain or rapid deterioration can be serious and should be assessed urgently rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Published figures to discuss
A consultation is an assessment, so there are no meaningful procedural complication rates. The main uncertainties are diagnostic: not every breathing symptom has a clear cause at first, results can be borderline, and tests can throw up incidental findings. These vary widely by symptom and person, so no fixed figures are given.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical complication from the consultation itself | Very low | The appointment is mainly history, examination, oxygen saturation, test review and planning. | NHS — Shortness of breathnhs.ukSource-linked context |
| Leaving without a final diagnosis | Common and often appropriate | Breathlessness, cough and abnormal scans often need staged tests, and several causes may be present at once. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Urgent symptoms needing emergency care | Clinically important | Severe breathlessness, chest pain, coughing blood, blue lips, collapse or very low oxygen levels should not wait for a routine clinic slot. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Over-investigation | Recognised | Each proposed scan or test should have a clear question and a plan for what changes depending on the result. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
What happens afterwards
There is no physical recovery. 'Afterwards' means having any tests that were arranged, waiting for results, and following the plan agreed with the specialist.
- Feeling much the same immediately after the appointment
- Having a list of tests to arrange or attend
- A period of waiting and some uncertainty before results
- A clinic letter arriving for you and your GP
Aftercare
- Arrange and attend any tests that were recommended.
- Start or continue treatment as advised, and use inhalers with the technique you were shown.
- Keep a note of your symptoms to discuss at follow-up.
- Read your clinic letter and check the plan makes sense to you.
- Stop smoking if you smoke — it is one of the most effective things for lung health, and support is available.
- Know who to contact if symptoms worsen before your next appointment.
- Seek urgent help for warning signs rather than waiting for a routine review.
- Symptom notes (onset, triggers, daily impact)
- Full list of medicines and inhalers
- Smoking history and any work or home exposures
- Previous X-rays, scans, results or clinic letters
- Peak flow or symptom diary if you keep one
- Questions for the specialist
- GP details so the letter and plan are shared
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- Severe or rapidly worsening breathlessness — seek urgent help or call 999
- Coughing up blood
- Chest pain, especially with breathlessness, sweating or feeling faint — call 999
- Blue lips or fingertips, or confusion and drowsiness
- A high fever with breathlessness or feeling very unwell
- Sudden one-sided leg swelling or pain with breathlessness (possible clot)
- Unintentional weight loss or a cough that keeps getting worse
Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your specialist gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
A 'good' outcome is a clear understanding of what is likely causing your symptoms and a sensible plan, even if that plan is to do specific tests or to monitor for a while. Sometimes the first visit gives a confident diagnosis; often it is the start of a process.
A consultation cannot guarantee an immediate answer, and not every breathing symptom has a single clear cause. The aim is careful assessment and the right next steps, with treatment adjusted as more becomes known.
Plans made at a consultation are not fixed. Breathing conditions can change, and treatment often needs adjusting as symptoms, test results and circumstances evolve. For long-term conditions such as asthma or COPD, ongoing review is part of good care.
Related tests, treatments or support
A respiratory consultation is often combined with breathing (lung function) tests such as spirometry, full lung function tests or body plethysmography, and sometimes with a chest X-ray, CT scan or blood tests. The specialist decides which tests fit your symptoms.
Follow-up & long-term care
Follow-up is usually by a further appointment or letter once test results are available. For ongoing conditions, reviews continue at intervals agreed with the specialist. Any abnormal result should have a clear plan and a named person responsible for acting on it.
- Attend follow-up appointments and reviews
- Use inhalers or other treatments as prescribed and check technique
- Keep a symptom or peak flow diary if asked
- Avoid known triggers and exposures where possible
- Stop smoking and accept support to do so
Repeat, follow-on and what comes next
- The working diagnosis may change as test results come back.
- Further or repeat tests are often needed before the picture is clear.
- Treatment plans are commonly adjusted at follow-up.
- A second opinion is sometimes sought if the diagnosis or plan is uncertain.
Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.
What good aftercare looks like
- A clear written plan and a clinic letter shared with you and your GP.
- A named contact and route for questions or worsening symptoms.
- Clear instructions on which tests to arrange and when results will be available.
- Advice on managing symptoms in the meantime, including stop-smoking support.
- Sensible safety-netting about urgent warning signs.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- Whether it is a first (longer) or follow-up appointment
- The length and complexity of the consultation
- Any tests done on the day, such as breathing tests or oxygen checks
- Further tests arranged separately, such as scans or blood tests
- Reports, letters and review appointments
- Whether ongoing follow-up for a long-term condition is needed
- The consultation fee and how long the appointment is
- Which tests, if any, are included on the day
- Likely cost of further tests such as lung function tests or scans
- Whether a follow-up appointment to discuss results is included
- Cost of reports and letters
- What happens, and what it costs, if ongoing care is needed
- Whether results and letters are shared with your GP
On the NHS? Respiratory consultations are available on the NHS by GP referral; private appointments are used mainly for speed of access or choice of specialist, with the same tests and interpretation.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- Not being told that a firm diagnosis may not come at the first visit.
- Tests arranged without explaining their purpose, limits or possible incidental findings.
- No clear plan for who follows up results and abnormal findings.
- Important previous results not requested, leading to repeated or delayed assessment.
- Private care that does not keep the GP informed.
Marketing red flags
- Promises of an instant or guaranteed diagnosis at a single appointment.
- Bundled test packages pushed regardless of your actual symptoms.
- Claims to 'rule out everything' from one visit.
- Discouraging GP involvement or downplaying the value of NHS pathways.
- Reassurance offered without appropriate examination or tests.
Choosing a specialist safely
- Check the specialist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
- You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the specialist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good specialist will welcome every one of these.
- What do you think is causing my symptoms, and what else could it be?
- Which tests do I need, and what will each one show?
- What can I do to manage my symptoms while we investigate?
- When and how will I get my results, and what are the next steps?
- What symptoms should make me seek urgent help before my next appointment?
- Will my GP be kept informed of the plan?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the specialist who carries out my appointment, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this appointment not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
Will I get a diagnosis at the first appointment?
Do I need a GP referral?
Will I have tests on the day?
What should I bring?
Can a private consultation get me tests faster?
My breathing is getting worse quickly — should I wait for my appointment?
Will I be told to stop smoking?
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How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: Asthma + Lung UK — tests for diagnosing lung conditions NHS — Shortness of breath NHS — Cough British Thoracic Society — quality improvement and services Asthma + Lung UK — symptoms, tests and treatments
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
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