Frequently asked questions

Dr Ricardo José treats a wide range of respiratory (chest and lung) conditions in adults. As a London chest specialist and consultant in respiratory medicine, he provides expert assessment, diagnosis and ongoing care for both simple and complex lung problems.

Conditions Dr Ricardo José commonly treats include:

• Chest infections including recurrent or severe respiratory infections

• Bronchiectasis and related problems such as non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection and Pseudomonas infection

• Asthma, COPD and chronic bronchitis

• Chronic cough and unexplained breathlessness

• Fungal lung disease and airway disease due to fungal sensitisation (for example allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis)

• Primary and secondary immunodeficiency with frequent chest infections

• Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

• Pulmonary complications of cancer and cancer treatments (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, stem cell transplant) 

• Lung cancer and lung cancer screening, including low-dose CT scanning and lung health checks

If you have ongoing breathlessness, cough, wheeze, chest pain or repeated chest infections, Dr Ricardo José can offer a thorough assessment and a personalised treatment plan to improve your lung health.

Availability can be found in the booking calendar where you can book your consultation online –  click here. 

Alternatively, please call +44 (0)20 3918 5746 or email appointments@londonchestspecialist.co.uk.

New patient consultation fees are £250 and follow-up consultations fees are £200.

Dr José is fee assured with several medical insurance companies including:

Allianz

AVIVA

AXA

BUPA

Cigna

Healix

General & Medical

WPA

If you are an international patient not in the United Kingdom please email appointments@londonchestspecialist.co.uk

As far as possible investigations will be done at the clinic or hospital where you are first seen. 

These will be performed as expeditiously as possible.

An attempt will be made for them to be carried on the same day of your visit but depends on availability of the clinic and may require attendance on a separate day.

Yes.

Video consultations are a useful way to be seen without having to travel to the consultation premises.

This is helpful for those living far away who don’t necessarily want to travel to London for their initial appointment or follow up.

You will need to sign a video consultation consent form and acknowledge the limitations a video consultation may have. 

Dr Jose can be flexible with video consultation requests. Please email your request. 

Dr Ricardo Jose has consulting rooms at the following locations:

• Wimpole Street Consulting Rooms and Diagnostic Centre, 77-79 Wimpole St, London W1G 9RU
• The Royal Brompton Hospital private outpatients, South Parade, London, SW3 6LP
• The London Clinic, 5 Devonshire place, W1G6HL

Please book your consultation appointment here.

If you need a date or time not available in the online calendar please email appointments@londonchestspecialist.co.uk

Dr Ricardo Jose has admission rights at The London Clinic and Royal Brompton Hospital. 

The hospitals where Dr José sees patients are located in central London with good access to underground, bus and mainline rail services, as well as local car parks and paid for parking. 

When you book, the team can provide detailed travel and parking information for your chosen clinic.

Yes, a comprehensive second opinion service is available.

Dr Ricardo José is especially sought after for second opinions on the management of bronchiectasis and associated respiratory infections, assessment and management of unexplained cough and shortness of breath, and complications of cancer therapy.   

A second opinion service will involve review of your clinical information and the results of the investigations that you have already had performed.

This will be followed by a written report with the opinion on the diagnosis and recommendations for future management. 

Please inform the administration team that you are seeking a second opinion. 

Please email admin@londonchestspecialist.co.uk for information about the transfer of your available clinical information and test results.

Radiology imaging will need to be submitted as DICOM files via dropbox (or similar service) or a CD can be posted to the clinic. 

The second opinion service fee includes a 30 min consultation.

Depending on the quantity of paperwork and investigations to review there may be associated additional fees.

If reporting of radiology imaging by a specialist chest radiologist is deemed necessary then additional charges will apply.

Further charges will also apply for follow up consultations or new investigations that need to be done. 

Please note that opinions can only be given to the patient themselves and not relatives or friends.  

Follow up consultations depend on the outcome of the initial consultation.

Follow up visits are recommended after investigations. This is to:

+ provide you with the results,

+ discuss the results,

+ answer your questions

+ make subsequent management plans.

Test results and management plans aren’t discussed via email.

Follow up consultations are also important to assess response to treatment and ensure stability of chronic conditions.

All booked appointments require 24 hours notice for cancellation without incurring a fee.

If the appointment is on Monday, cancellation notice must be received by 13h00 on Friday. 

If the required notice isn’t given or you don’t show up for your appointment you will need to pay the consultation fee at the self-pay rate. Missed consultations are not covered by insurance providers. 

Patients describe Dr Ricardo José as professional, attentive, kind, and reassuring.

He is highly experienced in diagnosing and treating a wide range of respiratory problems – including complex conditions, chest infections, and previously misdiagnosed issues.

Dr Jose explains test results and treatment options in clear, simple language and arranges further tests, such as CT scans, without delay. Many patients see him for breathlessness or a persistent cough, and benefit from detailed lung function assessments as part of their care.

Dr José is a specialist n respirator medicine (pulmonology). Within broader respiratory medicine he has specialist expertise in:

• Bronchiectasis and associated bacterial, fungal and mycobacterial infections
• Recurrent and severe chest infections
• Chronic cough
• Unexplained breathlessness
• Airway disease such asthma, copd and bronchiolitis
• Respiratory problems linked to cancer and cancer treatments

Yes. If you have a cough (dry or wet) or keep getting chest infections, Dr Ricardo Jose will use his expertise to help you.  He takes a thorough history and carries out investigations to identify the cause of the cough, and creates a tailored treatment plan to reduce symptoms. He involves a multidisciplinary team to provide evidence-based treatment and if needed uses novel cough immunomodulator medication only available in the UK private sector. 

Yes. Dr José regularly assesses patients with unexplained breathlessness, wheeze and chest tightness, using full lung function, bronchial provocation tests and cardiopulmonary exercise tests, he will look for causes of your shortness of breath, and implement a management plan. 

Yes. Dr José manages both mild and severe asthma as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic bronchitis. He ensures you have the correct diagnosis, optimises medication and advises on lifestyle changes to help you breathe more easily.

Yes. Bronchiectasis and complex chest infections, including mycobacterial (NTM), are key specialist areas for Dr José. He works with multidisciplinary teams to deliver long-term, evidence-based care for patients with these conditions. He works in a service looking after more than 2500 patients with bronchiectasis and in Europe’s largest PCD service. He personally carries out over 900 consultations per year related to bronchiectasis and complex respiratory infection. 

Yes. Dr José sees patients with ongoing breathlessness, cough and chest symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection and can arrange appropriate investigations, rehabilitation and treatment to support recovery.