Concierge vascular imaging · London
Private carotid Doppler in London, reported by a consultant vascular radiologist.
A TIA that came and went, a bruit your GP heard on the stethoscope, or a family history that has you thinking about stroke risk - this is the twenty‑minute neck ultrasound that answers it. Scanned and reported by a consultant vascular radiologist in central London, with the stroke team or vascular surgeons waiting on the other side if we find significant narrowing.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right hands
We route you to a consultant vascular radiologist - with carotid Doppler, who scans you and who reads it decides the answer.
- 02
Often answers same-day
Findings can frequently be discussed immediately, with the written report to follow.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private carotid Doppler costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A standard carotid Doppler in our network: £250–£450, with findings often the same day.
| Scan type | Indicative range | Typical duration | Report turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard carotid Doppler | £250–£450 | 25 min | Same-day |
| Carotid + vertebral Doppler | £350–£600 | 35 min | Same-day |
| US + vascular consultation | £550–£1,000 | 60 min | Same visit |
| Post-endarterectomy surveillance US | £280–£500 | 25 min | Same-day |
| Full stroke-risk work-up (US + bloods + BP + ECG) | £600–£1,200 | Half-day | Same-week |
| Urgent same-week US | £400–£800 | Half-day | Same-week |
Prices vary by clinic, whether vertebral arteries are added, and whether a same-visit consultant vascular opinion is included. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
A carotid Doppler is only as good as who reports it.
The velocity numbers are the answer - and the person interpreting them decides how those numbers translate into stenosis, risk and the next step. We route you to a consultant vascular radiologist, not a generalist.
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Had a TIA or minor stroke?
We arrange an urgent carotid Doppler and route findings to the stroke team.
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Cervical bruit picked up?
We quantify it and, if needed, book a same-visit vascular opinion.
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Pre-op or CV risk work-up?
We fold the scan into a rounded assessment - bloods, BP, ECG if you want it.
The journey
From enquiry to report - what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to report - often within days.
Phase 1 · Before your scan
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
~25 minutes at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what’s going on
A short, confidential form. Symptoms, TIA history, risk factors, referral or insurer if you have them.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: whether a carotid Doppler is the right test, which clinic, indicative price. If a scan isn’t the right step, we say so.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Often same or next day, including evenings and Saturdays. Insurer pre-authorisation handled.
- 04
On the day
Arrival and preparation
No fasting, no preparation. Wear something with an open neckline.
- 05
On the day
The scan itself
25 minutes. Warm gel, a handheld probe on your neck - painless, radiation-free, and you can often see the images as they appear.
- 06
On the day
Straight home
No recovery time. Drive, eat and work as normal.
- 07
After
Report and next steps
A written report usually within 48 hours, with onward stroke-team or vascular-surgery pathway if we find significant disease.
Typical end-to-end: 3–7 days. Urgent cases: same day.
What it shows
When a carotid Doppler is the right test.
Carotid Doppler answers a specific question - how narrowed are the neck vessels, and what does that mean for stroke risk. These are the presentations we see most.
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TIA work-up
The first-line vascular test after a suspected transient ischaemic attack.
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Post-stroke assessment
Characterises carotid disease after a confirmed ischaemic stroke.
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Cervical bruit on exam
Investigates a bruit heard by your GP or consultant on neck examination.
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Audible bruit on stethoscope
Quantifies flow disturbance if a bruit is heard over the carotid.
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Pre-cardiac-surgery screen
Assesses carotid stenosis before CABG or major cardiac procedures.
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Cardiovascular risk assessment
Adds a vascular data point to a broader CV risk work-up.
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Dizziness (with caveats)
Vertigo alone is rarely carotid - we say so up front, and route accordingly.
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Red flag: sudden neurology, one-sided weakness or slurred speech - 999
Do not wait for a private slot. Call 999 immediately.
Scan types
Not all carotid Doppler scans are the same.
What each option on your referral is actually for.
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Standard carotid Doppler
B-mode plus colour and spectral Doppler of the common, internal and external carotid arteries.
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Carotid + vertebral Doppler
Adds the vertebral arteries - useful for posterior-circulation symptoms.
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US + vascular consult
Scan plus a same-visit consultant vascular opinion, with a plan you can act on.
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Post-endarterectomy surveillance
Serial ultrasound after carotid surgery to detect restenosis.
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Full stroke-risk work-up
Carotid US alongside bloods, BP and ECG - a rounded vascular picture.
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Pre-op vascular clearance
Focused assessment before cardiac or major vascular surgery.
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Post-stenting surveillance
Follow-up ultrasound after carotid stent placement.
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Urgent same-week US
Expedited slot when symptoms or a referral demand a rapid answer.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of clinics, we picked them.
Partners across central, north, west and south London. Not listed publicly - introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
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Consultant vascular radiologists or accredited vascular scientists
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Standardised velocity criteria (NASCET) for stenosis quantification
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Same-day report, with images available for onward review
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Onward stroke-team or vascular-surgery pathway if significant disease is found
Safety and eligibility
One of the safest tests in medicine.
Carotid Doppler is exceptionally safe - the practical points are when a private slot is right and when A&E is right, and where the scan’s limits are.
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Painless, radiation-free
A handheld probe and gel - no needles, no radiation, no dye.
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Warm gel used
The contact gel is warmed, so the scan is comfortable from the first touch.
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Position on the couch
You lie on your back with your head slightly turned - that is the whole preparation.
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No fasting
Eat, drink and take medication as normal.
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TIA is a medical emergency
Do not wait for a private slot - go to A&E. Rapid NHS assessment is the standard of care.
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Vertigo caveat
Vertigo alone is rarely carotid disease. We will say if another route is a better use of your time.
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A normal scan is not a full clear
A normal Doppler doesn’t fully exclude intracranial disease - MRI/MRA may still be needed.
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MRI/MRA sometimes follow-on
For intracranial vessels or ambiguous findings, cross-sectional imaging is the next step.
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Bring prior imaging and BP records
Comparison against previous scans and your blood-pressure trend materially sharpens the report.
Reading your report
A carotid Doppler report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whatever the finding, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
The report is written for your doctor, not for you - and that’s normal.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and risk factors
Your details, the reason for the scan, and the vascular risk factors that shape interpretation.
- 02 Technique
Probes and velocity measurements
Which vessels were interrogated, with which probe, and the peak systolic velocity method used.
- 03 Findings
Peak systolic velocity, plaque, stenosis %
Vessel-by-vessel description: PSV, plaque morphology and NASCET-based stenosis percentages.
- 04 Impression
The conclusion: read this first
Normal, mild/moderate/severe stenosis, and the concrete next step - read this first.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover depends on your policy and clinic; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about carotid Doppler.
Quick answers on cost, referrals, TIA vs stroke, dizziness, and when a follow-up MRA or vascular surgery come in.
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How soon can I get a private carotid Doppler in London?
Most patients are scanned within one to three working days on our central London vascular network - same‑day if you’ve had TIA symptoms or your GP has heard a carotid bruit. It’s a painless, radiation‑free neck ultrasound, reported by a consultant vascular radiologist inside 24–48 hours.
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What does a carotid Doppler show?
The blood-flow through your carotid arteries - the main vessels in the neck that supply the brain. It quantifies narrowing (stenosis), characterises plaque, and flags flow disturbance that raises stroke risk.
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What is the difference between a TIA and a stroke?
A TIA is a transient episode of neurological symptoms with full recovery, usually within an hour, caused by temporary loss of blood flow. A stroke is when that loss of flow causes permanent brain injury. Both are medical emergencies - 999, not a private appointment.
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How much does a private carotid Doppler cost in London?
A standard carotid Doppler is typically £250–£450 in our network; adding vertebral vessels or a consultant vascular opinion raises the price. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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Do I need a referral?
Most clinics accept self-referral for a carotid Doppler. We can arrange a fast-track private GP if a formal referral is needed for insurance or onward pathway.
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I get dizzy - should I have a carotid Doppler?
Vertigo alone is rarely carotid disease. If dizziness is your only symptom, a carotid Doppler often isn’t the right first test - we will say so and suggest the right route.
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How quickly will I get results?
Findings are usually discussed immediately after the scan, with a formal written report from the reporting consultant within 24–48 hours.
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When is a follow-up MRA needed?
When the ultrasound is ambiguous, when intracranial vessels need assessing, or when planning intervention. MRA (magnetic resonance angiography) gives a full head-and-neck vascular map.
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When would I need vascular surgery?
Guidelines support carotid endarterectomy or stenting for symptomatic patients with 50–99% stenosis (higher benefit at 70–99%), and for selected asymptomatic patients. The vascular-surgery team decides, not the scan alone.
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Is a carotid Doppler safe in pregnancy?
Entirely safe - ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation, and is the standard vascular imaging test at any stage of pregnancy.
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When should I see a GP urgently instead?
Any sudden neurological symptom - one-sided weakness, slurred speech, facial droop, sudden loss of vision - is a 999 call, not a GP visit. Recurrent, brief episodes that fully resolve are still a same-day medical assessment.
Related tests
Looking for a different test?
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Ultrasound
General diagnostic ultrasound across abdomen, pelvis and soft tissue.
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Echocardiogram
Cardiac ultrasound - the heart’s equivalent look.
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Cardiovascular risk assessment
The full CV picture - bloods, BP, ECG and imaging.
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All tests
Browse every test and procedure we arrange.
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Hypertension
Related condition guide.
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Atrial Fibrillation
Related condition guide.
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Coronary Angioplasty
Related treatment option.
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Coronary Artery Disease Treatment
Related treatment option.
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In practice, in London
The honest picture around carotid doppler in London
With carotid doppler, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. On the NHS, carotid doppler typically sits behind a triage step and a wait that can stretch from a few weeks into months. In London’s private sector, the same appointment often lands within days. That speed matters when symptoms are disrupting work, sleep, or a plan you’d already committed to - and it’s the single most common reason people call us in the first place.
In practice, a private carotid doppler 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. Most of the imaging suites and endoscopy units we use sit within a mile of Harley Street or in Chelsea and Fulham, and turnaround on findings is measured in days, not weeks. For carotid doppler specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
Where a good concierge earns its keep is in the matching. There are dozens of consultants in London who see carotid doppler - but not all of them are the right fit for every case. We narrow it down based on subspecialty, insurer coverage, the specific question being asked, and whether continuity into treatment matters. The right first appointment saves you from repeating yourself later.