An Echocardiogram is similar to an ultrasound scan, using the same waves found in scans during pregnancy. All our private echocardiogram scans are performed by highly specialised advanced cardiac physiologists. Appointments take from 15 to 45 minutes. An echo report is produced by the physiologists and allows your doctor to evaluate and monitor your heart's health.
PLEASE BE ADVISED we have both male and female physiologists. If you have particular preferences as to who performs your scan please contact us beforehand.
Why do I need an Echo?
A private echocardiogram is a thorough and safe way to evaluate and assess your heart. You may self-refer for one of the specific concerns below or you may just want reassurance that your heart is healthy as part of your own health screening and well-being
Save with a package
SAVE £50 when you book an Echo and 24 hr ECG together.
£510
SAVE £50 when you book an Echo and 48 hr ECG together.
SAVE £50 when you book an Echo and 7 day ECG together.
£580
Your Heart Scan founder, Claire on the importance of heart maintenance checks.
You have your teeth checked. You have your eyes checked. You go to the gym, and you eat healthily. But what about your heart?
Before your appointment
No special preparations are needed for your private echocardiogram. You may eat and drink as normal throughout the day and continue to take your usual medications.
It may be helpful to bring a list of all your current medications with you as the cardiac physiologist performing your test may need to know what you are taking (blood pressure medication etc). Please bring with you your height and weight, this will help the physiologist assess your heart more accurately.
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If you need additional support for any reason or because you speak a different language and will require an interpreter please let us know when you book your appointment. If you would like support from a friend, relative, or carer we are more than happy for them to attend the appointment with you. If you need us to provide a chaperone or require a physiologist of a particular gender, please call us and we will arrange a suitable appointment.
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For any questions or advice, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
On the day
You will be welcomed into the clinic room by your Physiologist, who will confirm your details and will talk you through the test.
You will need to remove all clothing from your top half for the test, your privacy will be maintained as you will be behind a screen in a clinic room. You will be offered a disposable sheet or gown for extra privacy.
You’ll be asked to lie on a couch or bed. Three ECG electrodes (small, flat, sticky patches) will be placed onto your chest or back, this is to allow the physiologist to see what rhythm your heart is in and for the machine to record at appropriate times of the cardiac cycle. You will be asked to turn onto your left-hand side, this improves your images. If you are unable to turn onto your side, please inform the physiologists and they will do everything they can to obtain your images while you are on your back. You will not need to lie flat during any part of the procedure.
A gel is used on the end of the probe, to help the sound wave reach your heart and to allow the probe to be moved freely across your chest. It feels cold and sticky but is otherwise harmless. The test is intimate as the physiologist will be close to you and have their arm around you.
The physiologist will move the probe over different areas of your chest around your heart. The probe gives off pulses of high-frequency sound waves which are inaudible to the human ear, these pass through your skin to your heart. The ultrasound waves ‘echo’ against the structures of your heart and the probe picks up these reflections and shows them as moving images on a screen. Different parts of the heart are seen as the probe is moved around on your chest.
Once all the images have been recorded, the ECG electrodes will be removed, and you will be given some tissue to wipe the ultrasound gel off. At this point, you will be able to dress.
The physiologist will then explain how the results will be sent. Obtaining the images is the first part of the test, more detailed analysis, and measurements still need to be taken, however, this will be done once you have left the clinic, therefore it is not possible to fully discuss results with you at this point.
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