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Cardiology · London

Private cardiovascular risk assessment in London, by a consultant cardiologist.

A proper cardiovascular assessment - bloods, BP, QRISK3 and (when useful) calcium score - interpreted by a consultant cardiologist with a real conversation.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What a private cardiovascular risk assessment costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers and consultants.

In short

£250–£450, with a written plan in 3–5 days.

Assessment Indicative range
Core CV risk (bloods + BP + QRISK3) £250–£450
CV risk + ECG + echo £550–£1,100
CV risk + calcium score £600–£1,200
Advanced lipid panel (ApoB, Lp(a)) £180–£450
Comprehensive CV + genetic risk £900–£1,800
Athlete cardiac screening £700–£1,400

Prices vary by clinic, which markers and imaging are included, and whether a calcium score is added.

The problem

A cholesterol number is not a plan.

Corporate health checks return numbers without context - no QRISK3, no conversation, no plan. Whether you actually need a statin, or a calcium score, or nothing at all, is what matters.

  • A family history worries you?

    Early cardiac disease should be factored in properly, with Lp(a) and ApoB added where they change the answer.

  • On the edge of a statin?

    When your QRISK3 sits at the borderline, a calcium score often tips the decision either way.

  • Symptoms during exertion?

    A resting ECG and echo are the start; onward referral follows if the story needs a stress test or CTCA.

What it shows

The reasons people ask for a proper assessment.

Cardiovascular risk is a very individual conversation. These are the most common reasons people have one.

  • QRISK3 10-year risk score

    A validated score that estimates your 10-year risk of a heart attack or stroke - the basis for statin decisions.

  • Family history of early disease

    A parent or sibling with early cardiac disease changes your risk. It should be factored in properly.

  • Lp(a) inherited risk

    Lipoprotein(a) is genetic, checked once in a lifetime, and often missed on standard cholesterol panels.

  • ApoB (better than LDL)

    ApoB counts every atherogenic particle - a more accurate marker of risk than LDL cholesterol alone.

  • Coronary calcium score

    A low-dose CT that quantifies plaque already in your arteries - powerful when risk sits between categories.

  • Uncontrolled hypertension

    A proper BP work-up - ambulatory or home monitoring - with a plan that actually works.

  • Athlete pre-participation

    A structured screen - history, ECG and echo - for masters athletes and anyone increasing training load.

  • Red flag: chest pain - 999

    This is not the right test for new or crushing chest pain, breathlessness or collapse. Call 999.

Assessment types

What each option is actually for.

  • Core CV risk (bloods + BP + QRISK3)

    Full lipid profile, HbA1c, kidney function, BP and QRISK3 - the sensible baseline for most adults over 40.

  • CV risk + ECG + echo

    Adds a resting ECG and echocardiogram - useful if you have symptoms, hypertension or a family history.

  • CV risk + coronary calcium score

    Adds a low-dose CT calcium score - most useful when your QRISK3 sits at the borderline of treatment.

  • Advanced lipid panel (ApoB, Lp(a))

    ApoB, Lp(a) and particle numbers - a sharper picture than standard cholesterol, especially with a family history.

  • Comprehensive + genetic risk

    The full package: bloods, imaging, calcium score and targeted genetic testing where appropriate.

  • Familial hypercholesterolaemia work-up

    Structured assessment where LDL is very high or a first-degree relative has FH.

  • Athlete cardiac screening

    History, ECG and echocardiogram - the standard pre-participation panel used in sports cardiology.

  • Post-event risk stratification

    For patients after a heart attack, stent or bypass - a structured re-baseline of risk and secondary prevention.

Preparation and practicalities

A safe assessment, done properly.

Non-invasive, low burden and low risk - but preparation and timing still matter. Here is what to expect.

  • Non-invasive

    Bloods, blood pressure and - where indicated - ECG or echo. Calcium score uses a low CT dose.

  • Fasting preferred, not required

    A 10–12 hour fast gives cleaner lipids and glucose, but a non-fasting sample is still useful.

  • Continue your medication

    Unless you are told otherwise, take your usual medication - including statins and blood pressure tablets.

  • Pregnancy affects some markers

    Cholesterol, thyroid and BP change in pregnancy.

  • Caffeine and stress affect BP

    Avoid caffeine and heavy exercise in the hour before your appointment. Readings are usually repeated for accuracy.

  • Results in clinical context

    One number never decides everything. Your QRISK3, markers and history are interpreted together.

  • Not a substitute for urgent care

    If you are symptomatic - chest pain, breathlessness, collapse - call 999 or attend A&E; this is not that pathway.

  • Risk scores are averages

    QRISK3 estimates population risk. Family history, ethnicity and lifestyle can shift your individual risk.

  • Repeat every 5 years if low

    If risk is low, a repeat in 5 years is typical. Sooner if your risk is raised, or your history changes.

Reading your report

A cardiology report can look intimidating. It isn’t.

However many markers and images are included, the report follows the same four parts.

A UK consultant cardiologist reviewing an echocardiogram

A quiet reminder

QRISK3 is a population average - your individual risk is a conversation, not a percentage.

If anything in the report is unclear, ask your clinician to talk you through it before you decide about treatment.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and demographics

    Your details, the reason for assessment, your age, sex, ethnicity and relevant history.

  2. 02 Technique

    Which panels were done

    Which bloods were run, whether ECG, echo or calcium score were performed, and by whom.

  3. 03 Findings

    QRISK3 result and individual markers

    Your QRISK3 score, lipid panel, HbA1c, BP, and any imaging findings - with reference ranges.

  4. 04 Impression

    The conclusion: read this first

    Your risk category, whether you meet the treatment threshold, and your follow-up plan.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Frequently asked

Common questions about cardiovascular risk.

Quick answers on cost, QRISK3, Lp(a), statin decisions and when to see a cardiologist urgently.

  • What does a private cardiovascular risk assessment include?

    The core assessment is a full lipid profile, HbA1c, kidney function, a proper blood pressure check and a QRISK3 calculation, interpreted by a consultant cardiologist. ECG, echocardiogram, coronary calcium score and advanced lipids (ApoB, Lp(a)) can be added where they are likely to change your management.

  • What is QRISK3 and why does it matter?

    QRISK3 is the NICE-endorsed score that estimates your 10-year risk of a heart attack or stroke. It is the basis for decisions about statins and blood pressure treatment in the UK. It is more nuanced than older calculators and accounts for factors such as ethnicity, kidney function, migraine and family history.

  • How is this different from a Bupa or corporate health check?

    A general health check gives you a spreadsheet of results and a leaflet. Here, a consultant cardiologist reviews the numbers with you, calculates QRISK3 properly, decides which advanced markers are worth adding, and writes a plan you can act on.

  • How much does it cost?

    A core cardiovascular risk assessment is typically £250–£450. Adding ECG and echo brings it to £550–£1,100, and adding a coronary calcium score £600–£1,200. Advanced lipids (ApoB, Lp(a)) are £180–£450. Ask for a firm figure before you book.

  • Do I need a referral?

    No. Most private cardiovascular assessments accept self-referral. If your GP has raised a concern, share the letter - it helps tailor the panel.

  • What is Lp(a) and should I have it checked?

    Lipoprotein(a) is a largely genetic risk factor for early cardiac disease. It is checked once in a lifetime and is often missed on standard cholesterol panels.

  • When would I be offered a statin?

    UK guidelines recommend considering a statin for primary prevention when your 10-year QRISK3 is 10 percent or higher, or lower if you have specific risk factors.

  • How quickly do I get the results?

    Blood results and your QRISK3 are usually explained within 3–5 days. ECG and echo are reviewed the same visit. Coronary calcium score reports typically follow within 3–5 days.

  • Will my insurance cover it?

    Cover varies. Assessments are often covered when medically indicated and pre-authorised, but routine screening is usually self-funded.

  • When should I see a cardiologist urgently?

    New or worsening chest pain, breathlessness, syncope (collapse), palpitations with dizziness, or symptoms during exertion need urgent assessment. Call 999 for chest pain that is severe, crushing or lasts more than 10 minutes.

Related tests

Looking for something else?

In practice, in London

Why private cardiovascular risk assessment moves differently in London

With cardiovascular risk assessment, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. The NHS route for cardiovascular risk assessment is thorough, but the queue is real. Many patients are told to expect anywhere from a handful of weeks to several months, depending on their local trust and how the referral is graded. Going private in London usually collapses that window to a matter of days - often the same week if the diary allows. It isn’t about jumping a queue so much as buying time back while you still have the flexibility to plan around it.

In practice, a private cardiovascular risk assessment appointment in London means a named consultant, a proper hour in the room (or the equivalent on a video call), and a report you can actually read. Many of the imaging suites and endoscopy units sit within a mile of Harley Street or in Chelsea and Fulham, and turnaround on findings is measured in days, not weeks. For cardiovascular risk assessment specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.