Concierge cardiology · London
Private echocardiogram in London, read by a consultant cardiologist.
Breathless on the stairs, palpitations that won’t settle, a murmur your GP wants a proper look at? A BSE‑accredited sonographer maps your heart in about half an hour, and a consultant cardiologist talks you through what it actually means - often the same week.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right echo, not the quick one
We match the type of scan - TTE, stress or TOE - to the question you actually need answered.
- 02
Read by a consultant cardiologist
A subspecialist imaging cardiologist reports the study - not a technician alone.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private echocardiogram 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 TTE in our network: £350-£650; with a consultant review £500-£950.
| Scan type | Indicative range | Typical duration | Report turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) | £350–£650 | 30–45 min | 24–72 hrs |
| TTE + consultant cardiology review | £500–£950 | 45–60 min | 24–72 hrs |
| Stress echocardiogram | £600–£1,100 | 60–90 min | 48–72 hrs |
| Transoesophageal echo (TOE, sedated) | £1,500–£3,000 | 45–60 min | 48–72 hrs |
| Bubble contrast echo | £550–£950 | 45–60 min | 48–72 hrs |
| Follow-up / surveillance echo | £300–£600 | 30–45 min | 24–72 hrs |
Prices vary by clinic, time of day, whether contrast or sedation is required, and whether a consultant review is included. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
An echo is only useful if the right one is done, and read properly.
A standard TTE answers most questions; some need a stress echo or a TOE. Matching the type of study to the clinical question - and getting it reported by an imaging cardiologist - is the entire job. That is what we get right.
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Breathless or swelling ankles?
A TTE with ejection fraction is usually the right first step - and we can arrange it quickly.
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Known murmur or valve disease?
For follow-up or planning surgery, a 3D TTE or TOE may be more informative than a standard study.
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Want a consultant to read it?
We route to clinics where a consultant imaging cardiologist reports it - not a technician alone.
The journey
From enquiry to report - what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to explained result - usually 24-72 hours from scan to report.
Phase 1 · Before your test
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
~30-45 minutes at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Symptoms, timeline, referral or insurer if you have them.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: which echo, which clinic, indicative price. If a test is not 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
You undress to the waist and lie on your left side. For a TOE you fast beforehand and are sedated.
- 05
On the day
The scan
A standard TTE takes 30-45 minutes: warm gel, an ultrasound probe on the chest, no radiation and no needles.
- 06
On the day
Straight home
No recovery time after a TTE. After a TOE you need a few hours to recover from sedation and someone to take you home.
- 07
After
Report and next steps
Consultant cardiologist report in 24-72 hours, routed to your GP or specialist and explained to you.
Typical end-to-end: 2-3 days. Urgent cases: same day.
What it shows
Find the study that matches your symptom.
Heart symptoms differ enormously in pattern. These are the questions we are asked to answer most.
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Heart failure symptoms
Measures ejection fraction and pumping function when you are breathless, tired or swelling up.
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Valve disease and murmur
Assesses stenosis and leaks across aortic, mitral, tricuspid and pulmonary valves.
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Breathlessness assessment
Distinguishes cardiac from lung causes when you cannot explain why you are short of breath.
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Murmur or new heart sound
Explains what your GP heard on the stethoscope and whether it needs treating.
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Chamber size and function
Measures left and right ventricle size, wall thickness and how well each chamber contracts.
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Congenital abnormalities
Detects holes, unusual valves and structural differences present from birth.
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Hypertensive heart disease
Shows the effect of long-standing high blood pressure on the heart muscle.
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Follow-up after MI or chemo
Tracks recovery of pumping function after a heart attack or cardiotoxic chemotherapy.
Echo types
Not all echos are the same.
What each option on your referral is actually for.
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TTE (standard)
Transthoracic echo - the standard heart ultrasound from the outside of the chest.
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Stress echo (exercise or dobutamine)
An echo done at rest and on exertion, to reveal problems that only show up under stress.
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Transoesophageal echo (TOE)
A sedated study with a probe passed into the oesophagus for very high-detail images of valves and the left atrium.
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Bubble contrast echo
Uses agitated saline to look for holes between the chambers - useful after cryptogenic stroke.
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3D echo
Volumetric imaging of valves and chambers - especially useful before valve surgery.
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Speckle-tracking / strain imaging
Detects subtle changes in heart muscle function before ejection fraction falls.
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Contrast-enhanced echo
Microbubble contrast improves visualisation when standard images are difficult.
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Paediatric echo
Specialist echo in children and neonates, reported by a paediatric cardiologist.
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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CQC-registered, with a current good or outstanding rating
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BSE-accredited echocardiographers performing every study
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Reported by consultant cardiologists with an imaging subspecialty
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Results explained in plain English, with onward cardiology if needed
Safety and eligibility
One of the safest tests in medicine.
Echocardiography uses no radiation and, for a standard TTE, nothing more than warm gel. The practical points are body habitus and, for a TOE, sedation and fasting.
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No radiation
Ultrasound uses harmless sound waves - no X-rays or radiation dose of any kind.
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No injection for standard TTE
A standard transthoracic echo needs nothing more than warm gel on the chest.
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Bubble contrast is safe
Agitated saline microbubbles are used to look for shunts - safe and well tolerated.
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TOE requires sedation and fasting
For a transoesophageal echo you fast for six hours and cannot drive for 24 hours afterwards.
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Recent chest surgery
Fresh scars, dressings or drains may limit the imaging window - tell us in advance.
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Obesity or lung disease
Body habitus and hyper-inflated lungs can reduce image quality - contrast often helps.
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Pacemakers and implants
Any implanted cardiac device is completely fine for an echo.
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Pregnancy safe
Echocardiography is safe in pregnancy and often used to assess maternal heart function.
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Do not stop cardiac medication
Continue all your usual heart medication unless a cardiologist has told you otherwise.
Reading your report
An echo report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whether a standard TTE or a TOE, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
A normal echo does not always mean nothing else needs checking - context matters.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Your details and the question
Your details, which echo was performed, and the clinical indication behind it.
- 02 Technique
Which type of echo
Whether this was a standard TTE, a stress echo, a TOE or a contrast study - each answers a different question.
- 03 Findings
Chambers, valves, function, pericardium
Measurements of the chambers, valve function, ejection fraction, and the sac around the heart.
- 04 Impression
The conclusion: read this first
What it means, and what to do next - 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 echocardiography.
Quick answers on cost, referrals, TTE vs TOE, ejection fraction and results.
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How long does an echocardiogram take?
A standard transthoracic echo (TTE) takes 30 to 45 minutes in the room - most of that lying on your left side while the sonographer moves a probe across your chest. A stress echo runs closer to 60 minutes; a TOE about 30 minutes plus recovery from sedation.
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How much does a private echocardiogram cost in London?
A standard transthoracic echo (TTE) is typically £350-£650, and £500-£950 with a consultant cardiology review included. A stress echo is £600-£1,100 and a TOE £1,500-£3,000. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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Do I need a referral?
Most echocardiograms accept self-referral, although a cardiology review is usually more useful than the scan alone. We can arrange a fast-track private cardiologist if you would like the result interpreted in a consultation.
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What is the difference between TTE and TOE?
A TTE is a standard external ultrasound of the heart through the chest wall - no preparation needed. A TOE uses a probe passed into the oesophagus under sedation to get much higher-detail images of the valves and left atrium. TOE is reserved for questions a TTE cannot fully answer.
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What does ejection fraction mean?
Ejection fraction is the percentage of blood pumped out of the left ventricle with each heartbeat. Normal is roughly 55-70 percent. A reduced ejection fraction is one definition of heart failure and guides treatment.
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Is echo contrast safe?
Yes. Standard bubble contrast is agitated saline - inert and well tolerated. Microbubble contrast agents used to improve image quality have an excellent safety record and are widely used.
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How quickly will I get results?
A written consultant report is typically available in 24-72 hours. Urgent findings are communicated the same day.
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Will my insurance cover it?
Most policies cover echocardiography when clinically indicated and pre-authorised. Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Aviva, WPA, Cigna and Healix recognise us, and we handle the pre-authorisation.
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Is echo safe in pregnancy or when breastfeeding?
Yes. Ultrasound uses no radiation and is safe throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. Echo is often used to assess maternal heart function during pregnancy.
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When should I escalate?
If you have severe chest pain or you faint, call 999 - this is not a service for emergencies. For new breathlessness, ankle swelling or an irregular pulse, we can usually arrange an echo within a day or two.
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In practice, in London
How echocardiogram tends to unfold when you go private
With echocardiogram, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. The NHS route for echocardiogram is thorough, but the queue is real. Most patients we speak with have been 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.
The mechanics are straightforward: a consultant appointment, any tests done at a nearby CQC-registered site, and a written report back within a few days. London’s density of private diagnostics - Marylebone, the City, Chelsea, Canary Wharf - means most patients can find something that fits around work without a cross-town trek. For echocardiogram specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
There are a lot of consultants in London who can technically handle echocardiogram. Fewer who do it week in, week out for the exact question you’re bringing. We spend most of our time working out which is which - and being straight when a different test or a different specialist would serve you better. Everything runs to CQC, GMC and Royal College standards; the choice is about fit, not floor.