Respiratory Consultant

[ComeFlyWithB]

Hi All,

Went for my initial Class 2 today and everything is passed / fine however being asthmatic I require the standard spirometry and bronchial reactivity tests even though my peak flow is above what’s expected for my age / height and so on.

Could anyone be so kind to recommend any in the Greater Manchester area or even Leeds / Sheffield ?

Thanks in advance

[ComeFlyWithB]

If anybody ever requires this test in the future and want a straightforward experience that won’t cost the earth with a pleasant chap I highly reccomend at the Alexandria in Cheadle, he’s done a few of these for class 1 and 2. No metacholine tests just a straightforward steady jog up and down the corridor. £250 all in - appointment / consultation / spirometry tests / report.

Hopefully can help someone out in the future my AME told of horror stories of previous students going down to Harley street and paying north of £1500 to see professor something or other.

[Radgirl]

My reading of the rules is that if your asthma is controlled you only need these tests if you are on regular inhalers or have been in the last 2 years (class 1) or 5 years (class 2)

The reactivity test is simply 6 minutes of exercise and a before and after FEV1. The spirometry means blowing into a spirometry machine. Both these tests are normally undertaken by a physiotherapist in hospital and the fee should be about £50

The problem is that the CAA wants them done by an accredited specialist ie a consultant and that is why the cost rises. Goodness knows why as the machines provide a printout which could be sent off, and a physiotherapist is licensed and regulated and thus as 'trustworthy' as a consultant

[ComeFlyWithB]

Correct. My asthma is well controlled and my before and after FEV1 results were around 111 and 125% of predicted values respectively from memory. I entirely agree regarding a physiotherapist.

Merely posting my experiences and costs involved, Im sure there are cheaper/more expensive and better/worse people to do it however I found literally no 'accredited specialists' IE respiratory consultants who would/could including my local private hospital who didn't do the tests.

[Radgirl]

In case it helps, we often call respiratory consultants chest physicians.

A good way to find a consultant, and most of these tests are common or bssic, is to search for the local NHS hospital's website. They usually list the consultants in each department. Then go to the 'find a consultant' website for any of the big health insurers - BUPA is an example - and enter those names. If they do private practice the telephone number of the private secretary comes up and you can then ring them up and compare prices and availability

I find it hard to believe any private hospital cant do basic pulmonary function tests. However they may not know what bronchial reactivity is.