The Chest Clinic
Dr Matthew J Knight MBE PGCert (Allergy) FRCP
0203 146 1771
Consultant Respiratory Physician
Dr Matthew Knight is a Consultant Respiratory Physician with over 20 years’ clinical experience in both NHS and independent practice. He specialises in the assessment of complex or unexplained respiratory symptoms, particularly in patients who remain symptomatic despite prior investigation or treatment. He leads the specialist complex asthma service at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
His practice focuses on delivering clear diagnosis, objective physiological assessment, and structured, evidence-based management plans, particularly in diagnostically challenging cases. A significant proportion of both his NHS and private practice involves caring for patients with initial "normal" tests, without a clear diagnosis.
Dr Knight manages the full spectrum of adult respiratory disease, with particular expertise in unexplained breathlessness, chronic cough, recurrent chest infections, complex asthma (including work-up for Biologics), and sleep-disordered breathing.
Practice Locations
Dr Knight sees private patients at (links to online booking below):
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The Wellington Hospital (HCA Healthcare UK) – St John’s Wood (North Building - Circus Road)
Clinical Expertise
Dr Knight leads specialist services at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, including complex asthma and unexplained breathlessness pathways.
His clinical practice is centred on:
Unexplained Breathlessness
Advanced diagnostic assessment using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPEX) to distinguish between cardiac, respiratory, and non-organic causes of dyspnoea. This is particularly valuable in patients with normal or inconclusive standard investigations.
Specialist Diagnostic Approach (Including CPET / CPEX)
Alongside extensive access to Lung function testing, CT scanning, blood and allergy testing, a key feature of this service is access to cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET / CPEX).
This is an advanced physiological test that provides objective assessment of breathlessness and exercise limitation and is not widely available in routine practice, particularly in both NHS and private settings.
CPET allows precise differentiation between:
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cardiac causes
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respiratory causes
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deconditioning
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dysfunctional breathing
➡️ This is particularly valuable in patients with normal or inconclusive standard investigations
Complex Asthma & Airway Disease
Management of difficult-to-control asthma, including:
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optimisation of inhaled therapies
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assessment of airway inflammation and phenotype
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initiation and supervision of biologic therapies
Chronic Cough & Recurrent Chest Symptoms and Infections
Structured evaluation of persistent cough and recurrent infections, with a focus on identifying treatable traits and avoiding unnecessary long-term medication. Where prescribing is necessary, the latest medicines (including Gefapixant if indicated) can be provided from the Wellington Hospital and Clementine Churchill pharmacies.
Sleep Medicine
Assessment and management of:
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snoring and sleep fragmentation
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daytime fatigue
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Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Including home sleep studies and personalised treatment strategies.
Research, Innovation & Leadership
Dr Knight was awarded an MBE in 2020 for services to the NHS, recognising his role in developing early Virtual COVID Ward models and remote monitoring pathways.
He is Chief Medical Officer and Responsible Officer at Medefer, where he leads work on digital pathways, clinical governance, and technology-enabled care delivery.
His work focuses on how data, remote monitoring, and AI-supported systems can safely extend specialist care beyond hospital settings.
Selected Academic Contributions
Dr Knight has published in leading journals including The BMJ and The Lancet, with a focus on respiratory disease, digital health, and service innovation.
Key publications include:
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Post-COVID Syndrome (Long COVID)
“Management of post-acute covid-19 in primary care” – The BMJ
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Virtual / Hospital at Home Care (2026)
“Real-World Outcomes from 2905 Episodes of Hospital at Home Care: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study” – Frontiers in Digital Health
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Pleural Disease
“Ambulatory management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax” – The Lancet
He has also contributed expert evidence on Long COVID to the UK House of Lords.
A full publication list is available via his Google Scholar profile.
Background & Training
Dr Knight qualified from University College London and completed specialist respiratory training within the Northwest Thames programme, including:
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Royal Brompton Hospital
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Hammersmith Hospital
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Harefield Hospital
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Royal Free Hospital
He holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Allergy from Imperial College London and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.
Appointments & Contact
Appointments can be arranged via:
Private Administration (Chest Clinic)
📞 0203 146 1771
✉️ enquiries@chest-clinic.co.uk
Hospital Booking Lines
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The Wellington Hospital: 020 7483 5148
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The Clementine Churchill Hospital: 0808 101 0337
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OSD Healthcare: 01442 331 900
To make an appointment, please, call our administration team on 0203 146 1771 or email