Private asthma attack clinic in London, same-day respiratory.
Asthma attacks rarely happen without warning — symptoms usually build over hours or days. Most asthma deaths in the UK are judged preventable, and the commonest failures are underusing the preventer inhaler and waiting too long to get help. This page is for keeping by the inhaler. Our private respiratory clinic in East London offers same-day asthma attack assessment with a private respiratory specialist, diagnosis and a clear treatment plan — usually without a referral and often the same day.
Call 999 now if breathing is very hard, the reliever isn't working, or lips look blue.
The condition
What is asthma attack?
Asthma attacks rarely happen without warning — symptoms usually build over hours or days. Most asthma deaths in the UK are judged preventable, and the commonest failures are underusing the preventer inhaler and waiting too long to get help. This page is for keeping by the inhaler.
- What asthma attack is
- Symptoms to look for
- Causes & risk factors
- Tests & diagnosis
- Treatment options
- When to see a specialist
Understanding asthma attack
Asthma attack: symptoms, causes, tests & treatment
Call 999 immediately if
- the reliever inhaler is not helping, or the effect wears off within an hour
- you are too breathless to speak in full sentences, eat or sleep
- your lips or fingertips look blue or grey
- your breathing is getting faster and it feels like you cannot get enough air
- a child is sucking in below the ribs or at the neck, or is unusually quiet and still
- you have taken ten puffs of reliever and are no better
A chest that goes quiet after being wheezy is more worrying, not less — it can mean too little air is moving. Never delay because you are unsure whether it counts as an emergency. In an emergency call 999, or go to the Royal London Hospital Emergency Department, Whitechapel Road, London E1 1FR.
If you are having an attack
1. Sit upright — do not lie down — and try to keep calm. 2. Take one puff of your reliever inhaler (usually blue) every 30 to 60 seconds, up to a maximum of ten puffs, using a spacer if you have one. 3. If you feel worse at any point, or you are no better after ten puffs, call 999. 4. If the ambulance has not arrived within 15 minutes, repeat step 2. Follow your personal asthma action plan if it says something different, and take this leaflet or your plan with you to hospital.
Use a spacer
A spacer device delivers considerably more of the medicine to the lungs than an inhaler used alone, and in an attack it works as well as a nebuliser for most people. Adults benefit as much as children. If you do not have one, ask us — they are inexpensive and they are the single easiest improvement most people can make to their asthma control.
The warning signs before an attack
- needing your reliever more than three times a week
- waking at night with cough, wheeze or tightness
- symptoms interfering with exercise or work
- peak flow readings drifting down from your usual best
- a cold or chest infection developing — the commonest trigger of a serious attack
Any of these means your asthma is not controlled and needs reviewing before it becomes an attack, not after.
After an attack
- Arrange a review within 48 hours, even if you feel completely better. This is the point at which the next attack is prevented.
- Finish any course of steroid tablets you have been given, exactly as prescribed.
- Restart or continue your preventer inhaler — it is more important now, not less.
- Ask for your inhaler technique to be checked. A large proportion of people use theirs incorrectly and get a fraction of the dose.
- Ask for or update a written asthma action plan. People with one are significantly less likely to be admitted to hospital.
Staying well between attacks
Do
- Take your preventer inhaler every day, even when you feel completely well
- Rinse your mouth after a steroid inhaler
- Have the flu vaccine each year, and keep COVID vaccination up to date
- Keep a spare reliever at work or school, and check expiry dates
- Know your best peak flow, if you monitor it
Do not
- Do not stop the preventer because symptoms have settled — that is the preventer working
- Do not rely on the reliever alone; increasing use is a warning, not a solution
- Do not smoke or vape, and avoid smoky environments
- Do not take ibuprofen or aspirin if they have ever triggered symptoms
- Do not ignore a chest infection — get it assessed early
Reliever-only treatment is no longer recommended
UK guidance has moved away from using a blue reliever inhaler on its own. Adults and adolescents should be on an inhaler containing a preventer medicine, whether taken daily or as an anti-inflammatory reliever. If you have only ever been given a blue inhaler, book a review — your treatment is out of date and you are at higher risk.
Book an appointment if you have had an attack in the last 48 hours, you are using your reliever more than three times a week, you need your inhaler technique checked, or you have never been given a written action plan. We can review your asthma, measure your lung function on site, and issue a plan the same day.
Respiratory services we offer
Expert care under one roof
From same-day GP assessment to specialist care, scans and tests — with a clear plan the same visit.
Respiratory Clinic
Lungs & breathing care.
Chest Imaging
Chest X-ray & CT access.
Private Blood Tests
Diagnostic blood tests, explained.
ENT Clinic
For nose, throat & cough.
Private GP
Same-day GP to start your care.
Health MOT
A full private health check.
Simple & reassuring
Seen today, in three easy steps
Book in a minute
Book online any time or call reception — no GP referral needed for most appointments.
Seen quickly
A GMC-registered clinician assesses you, with tests and scans arranged in-house where possible.
Diagnosis & plan
You leave with a clear diagnosis, treatment, and any specialist care or scan arranged.
Private assessment
See a private respiratory specialist for asthma attack in London
At our private respiratory clinic on Whitechapel Road in East London, you can see a private respiratory specialist or asthma attack doctor without a referral — most days, often the same day. A private GP in East London or consultant respiratory specialist will assess you, arrange the right tests and explain your diagnosis and treatment options clearly. We help patients across East London, Canary Wharf, the City, Docklands and Aldgate who want fast, private answers about asthma attack.
Local, private, fast
A private respiratory clinic for East London & Canary Wharf
Tower Bridge Hospital is on Whitechapel Road in the heart of East London — minutes from Canary Wharf, the City of London, Docklands and Aldgate. Patients across Tower Hamlets, Wapping, Limehouse and Bethnal Green choose us for a fast, private asthma attack appointment with a respiratory specialist, without the wait or the referral.
Why choose us
Why choose our East London private respiratory clinic
- Same-day, no referral — private GP and respiratory under one roof
- Specialist-led care with GMC-registered clinicians
- Tests & scans on site, results explained the same visit
- Minutes from Canary Wharf & the City of London
- A named clinician who explains your results clearly
- Transparent pricing and a plan you can act on
Ready when you are
See a private respiratory specialist for asthma attack — the same day.
Book a private asthma attack assessment in East London: same-day appointments, respiratory specialist-led care and a clear plan. No referral needed.
Common questions
Asthma attack in London: your questions answered
Where can I find a private asthma attack specialist near me in East London?
Our private respiratory clinic is on Whitechapel Road in East London, minutes from Canary Wharf and the City. You can see a private respiratory specialist or asthma attack doctor for assessment and treatment, usually the same day and without a referral.
Can I see a private respiratory specialist for asthma attack the same day?
Yes. We hold same-day private appointments most days, including Saturdays, so you can be assessed by a respiratory specialist or GP quickly, with tests done in-house where possible.
How much does a private asthma attack appointment cost in London?
We keep pricing transparent — see our fees page or call 020 7916 0029, and we will explain the cost of the asthma attack assessment and any tests before you book.
Do I need a referral to see a private respiratory specialist for asthma attack?
No. You can book directly with our clinic. If you are unsure whether to start with a private GP or a respiratory specialist, we will guide you.
Which areas do you serve for private asthma attack care?
We see private patients from across East London, Canary Wharf, the City of London, Docklands, Aldgate, Wapping, Limehouse and Tower Hamlets.
Medically reviewed by Dr Haydar Bolat — Clinical Director, GMC 7138332. Last reviewed August 2026 · next review August 2027. Written in line with our editorial & content-review policy, using guidance from the NHS, NICE and the relevant royal colleges. This information is general and does not replace personal medical advice.