Where Can I Get Specialist Care for Aspergillosis in the UK?

Last reviewed: 21 October 2026
Audience: People with aspergillosis, families, carers and healthcare professionals
Applies to: Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), Aspergillus bronchitis, severe asthma with fungal sensitisation (SAFS), aspergilloma and other forms of aspergillosis.

Aspergillosis is a group of conditions that can affect people in very different ways. Some patients receive all the care they need from their local respiratory or other specialist team. Others benefit from advice or assessment at a hospital with particular experience in fungal disease.

There are specialist services and relevant centres of expertise across the United Kingdom. This guide explains how care is organised, identifies hospitals with relevant expertise, and describes how patients and clinicians can obtain additional advice when needed.

Where should I start?

For most people, the starting point is their GP or existing hospital specialist. This is often a respiratory consultant, but aspergillosis can also be identified and managed by infectious diseases, allergy, immunology, haematology, oncology, transplant, ear, nose and throat, ophthalmology or other specialist services.

The most appropriate team depends on the type of aspergillosis, the organs affected, other medical conditions and the complexity of treatment.

For example, some people with ABPA receive effective care through their local severe asthma or bronchiectasis service. A patient with a stable, simple aspergilloma may be managed locally with appropriate specialist review. Someone with CPA, recurrent bleeding, difficult antifungal treatment or an uncertain diagnosis may benefit from more specialised assessment.

UK hospitals and centres with relevant expertise

The following list is intended to help patients and healthcare professionals identify relevant hospitals and services. It is not a ranking, an exhaustive directory or a guarantee that a particular hospital operates a dedicated aspergillosis clinic.

Some hospitals provide established fungal disease clinics. Others have relevant expertise through respiratory medicine, infectious diseases, severe asthma, bronchiectasis, transplantation or medical mycology. Referral arrangements should always be confirmed with the receiving service.

England

Manchester — National Aspergillosis Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital

The National Aspergillosis Centre (NAC), part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, provides nationally commissioned specialist care for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. Its clinical expertise also extends to ABPA, Aspergillus bronchitis and other complex Aspergillus-related conditions.

The centre brings together respiratory and infectious diseases specialists, mycology expertise, specialist nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and other professionals. It supports patients directly and provides advice to healthcare teams across the UK.

About the National Aspergillosis Centre

London — Royal Brompton Hospital

Royal Brompton Hospital has extensive experience in complex respiratory disease, including bronchiectasis, severe asthma and Aspergillus-related lung conditions. Specialist respiratory assessment may be relevant for patients with ABPA, CPA or other complicated lung disease.

London — Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Imperial College Healthcare provides a dedicated fungal service with respiratory fungal and infection fungal clinics. Its multidisciplinary approach includes respiratory medicine, infectious diseases, mycology, microbiology, pharmacy and other specialties.

The service also provides antifungal therapeutic drug monitoring and multidisciplinary review of complex cases.

Imperial College Healthcare fungal service

Cambridge — Royal Papworth Hospital

Royal Papworth Hospital provides specialist respiratory and thoracic services, including care for patients with complex lung disease, bronchiectasis and lung transplantation. Its respiratory expertise is relevant to several Aspergillus-related conditions.

Cambridge — Addenbrooke’s Hospital

Addenbrooke’s Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, provides specialist respiratory, infectious diseases, haematology and transplant services. These specialties may be involved in the diagnosis and treatment of different forms of aspergillosis, including invasive infection.

Birmingham — University Hospitals Birmingham

University Hospitals Birmingham provides tertiary respiratory, infectious diseases and other specialist services relevant to fungal lung disease and complex infections. The appropriate referral destination depends on the patient’s condition and the service accepting referrals.

Bristol — Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust

Southmead Hospital provides specialist respiratory and other services relevant to bronchiectasis, severe respiratory disease and complex infections. Patients with suspected Aspergillus-related disease may benefit from assessment through the appropriate clinical team.

Nottingham — Nottingham University Hospitals

Nottingham University Hospitals provides specialist respiratory and infectious diseases care. These services may be relevant to patients with complex lung disease or fungal infections, depending on their diagnosis and referral needs.

Leicester — Glenfield Hospital and University of Leicester

Leicester has substantial respiratory research expertise, particularly in severe asthma, fungal sensitisation and the relationship between Aspergillus and airway disease.

Glenfield Hospital provides specialist respiratory services, while university research groups contribute to understanding fungal allergy and lung disease.

Important: Research expertise does not necessarily mean that a dedicated aspergillosis referral clinic is available. Patients should ask their clinician about appropriate NHS referral options.

Liverpool — Specialist respiratory and severe asthma services

Liverpool has specialist respiratory services with expertise in severe asthma and complex airway disease. These may be particularly relevant to patients with ABPA or severe asthma with fungal sensitisation.

Patients should confirm which hospital service is appropriate and whether it accepts referrals for their particular condition.

Newcastle upon Tyne — Newcastle Hospitals

Newcastle provides specialist respiratory, infectious diseases and medical mycology services, including expertise relevant to bronchiectasis, complex asthma, transplantation and fungal diagnosis.

The availability of a dedicated aspergillosis clinic and its referral arrangements should be checked before referral.

Plymouth — Derriford Hospital

Derriford Hospital, part of University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, provides specialist respiratory and other hospital services relevant to complex lung disease.

It is a potential regional source of expertise, although the current scope of dedicated aspergillosis assessment and referral provision should be confirmed.

Exeter — Royal Devon and University of Exeter

Exeter is an important centre for medical mycology research, including work on fungal infections and their effects on patients with underlying disease.

The University of Exeter’s research expertise should be distinguished from the availability of a dedicated NHS aspergillosis clinic. Patients seeking clinical assessment should discuss suitable local or regional referral services with their hospital team.

Scotland

Edinburgh — NHS Lothian

Edinburgh has relevant expertise in infectious diseases, respiratory medicine and fungal infections, including chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.

Patients can discuss specialist assessment through their local NHS team, with referral arrangements confirmed through NHS Lothian.

Aberdeen — Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary provides regional specialist respiratory and infectious diseases services that may be relevant to Aspergillus-related lung disease.

The availability and scope of dedicated aspergillosis assessment should be confirmed locally.

Glasgow — Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and regional specialist services

Glasgow provides tertiary respiratory, infectious diseases, transplant and other specialist care. Different services may be involved depending on whether a patient has allergic, chronic or invasive aspergillosis.

Wales

Cardiff — University Hospital of Wales

Cardiff provides specialist respiratory, infectious diseases and other tertiary services relevant to complex lung disease and fungal infection.

Patients should discuss with their local team whether specialist assessment is available in Cardiff or whether advice from another centre would be helpful.

Swansea — Morriston Hospital

Morriston Hospital provides specialist respiratory and other services that may be relevant to patients with complicated lung disease and fungal infection.

The most appropriate referral pathway depends on the patient’s diagnosis and clinical needs.

Northern Ireland

Belfast — Belfast City Hospital and regional specialist services

Belfast provides specialist respiratory, infectious diseases and other tertiary services relevant to the assessment and treatment of fungal disease.

Patients should discuss regional referral arrangements with their local consultant.

How do I know which centre is right for me?

Different forms of aspergillosis require different types of expertise. A centre with extensive experience in severe asthma and fungal allergy may be particularly suitable for someone with difficult ABPA or SAFS. Someone with CPA may need expertise in long-term antifungal treatment, fungal diagnostics, imaging and the management of complications.

Patients with invasive aspergillosis may require urgent assessment by infectious diseases, haematology, transplant or other specialist teams, depending on the circumstances.

There is no single centre that is automatically the best choice for every patient. Clinical needs, available expertise, referral pathways, travel and patient preferences all matter.

When might additional specialist advice help?

It may be worth discussing specialist input if:

• The diagnosis remains uncertain despite investigations.
• CPA is suspected or has been diagnosed.
• Symptoms continue to worsen despite treatment.
• Antifungal medicines are ineffective, poorly tolerated or difficult to manage.
• Drug interactions, antifungal resistance or abnormal drug levels complicate treatment.
• There is recurrent haemoptysis (coughing up blood), progressive lung damage or other complications.
• ABPA or fungal-associated asthma remains difficult to control.
• Your clinical team would benefit from a specialist review of scans, test results or treatment options.

Safety note: Significant or ongoing coughing up of blood, severe breathlessness or sudden deterioration requires urgent medical assessment. Do not wait for a routine specialist referral.

How can the National Aspergillosis Centre help?

NAC has a particular national responsibility for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, but its wider clinical experience includes other forms of aspergillosis.

Direct specialist assessment

Patients may be referred to Manchester for assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning or ongoing specialist review.

Some patients travel considerable distances because they value access to the centre’s particular expertise. Others prefer to receive as much care as possible nearer home. Both approaches can be reasonable depending on clinical circumstances.

Advice to your local hospital team

Specialist input does not always require a patient to attend NAC in person.

NAC supports clinicians through advice and multidisciplinary discussion of complex cases. This can help local teams review diagnoses, interpret investigations and consider treatment options while the patient remains under local care.

Follow-up and reducing unnecessary travel

For patients receiving ongoing NAC care, some appointments may take place remotely. Face-to-face visits may still be necessary for assessment, investigations or treatment decisions.

The frequency and format of appointments depend on individual clinical needs. Some patients may attend Manchester approximately annually, with remote follow-up between visits, but this is not a fixed schedule for everyone.

Referral arrangements

For CPA, referrals to NAC are normally made directly by the patient’s local specialist consultant using the centre’s referral process.

For other forms of aspergillosis, NAC’s published guidance specifies NHS e-Referral, which can be initiated by an appropriate GP or consultant.

NAC referral information for healthcare professionals

Your local hospital team remains important

Being referred to a specialist centre does not usually mean that the specialist centre takes over every aspect of your healthcare.

Your local respiratory or other specialist team remains essential for everyday clinical care, urgent problems, routine investigations and the management of other medical conditions.

Specialist centres and local hospitals can work together, sharing findings and treatment recommendations. This approach is often described as shared care.

It is important to know which team is responsible for prescriptions, monitoring blood tests, responding to new symptoms and arranging follow-up.

Can I ask to be seen at a different specialist centre?

Yes. Patients can discuss their preferences with their GP or hospital consultant, including the possibility of obtaining a second opinion or referral to a specialist service elsewhere.

Whether a particular referral can be arranged depends on clinical suitability, NHS referral rules, service availability and the receiving centre’s acceptance criteria.

You do not have to assume that the nearest hospital is always the most appropriate option, but equally, travelling to a distant centre is not always necessary.

Questions to ask your GP or hospital consultant

• Which form of aspergillosis do I have, or which diagnosis is being investigated?
• Does our local team have experience treating this condition?
• Would specialist advice or a second opinion be helpful?
• Is there a suitable specialist service within our region?
• Would a referral to NAC or another specialist centre be appropriate?
• Could my case be discussed with a specialist team without me travelling?
• If I receive specialist care elsewhere, who will coordinate my ongoing treatment and monitoring?

Finding the right care for you

The UK has considerable expertise in respiratory disease, fungal infection and medical mycology. That expertise is distributed across hospitals and research centres with different strengths.

For many patients, good care means a knowledgeable local team with access to additional specialist advice when needed. For others, direct assessment at a specialist centre can make an important difference.

The aim is not to send everyone to the same hospital, but to help each person receive appropriate expertise, coordinated care and support.

Further information

• About the National Aspergillosis Centre
• Finding an Aspergillosis Expert – General Guidance
• Aspergillosis Information for GPs and Primary Care
• Imperial College Healthcare Fungal Service

Directory note: This page identifies hospitals and centres with relevant clinical or research expertise. It does not imply that every centre operates a dedicated aspergillosis clinic or accepts direct referrals for all forms of the disease. Services and referral arrangements may change; patients and clinicians should confirm current arrangements with the relevant NHS provider.