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Private electrophysiology study in London, by a consultant electrophysiologist.

A BHRS-accredited electrophysiologist maps and - where indicated - ablates the arrhythmia at the same visit, in a fully equipped EP lab.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What a private EP study and ablation cost in London.

Indicative ranges across UK EP labs.

In short

£3,500–£7,000; SVT ablation £8,000–£15,000; AF ablation £14,000–£28,000.

Procedure Indicative range
Diagnostic EP study £3,500–£7,000
EP study + SVT ablation £8,000–£15,000
EP study + AF ablation £14,000–£28,000
EP study + VT ablation £16,000–£30,000
EP study + pacemaker/ICD implant £10,000–£20,000
Repeat EP study £5,000–£10,000

Prices vary by clinic, whether ablation is performed at the same visit, energy type (radiofrequency or cryoballoon), and whether a device implant is combined.

The problem

Palpitations and blackouts deserve a definitive answer.

An EP study turns a rhythm mystery into a plan - and in most cases, a treatment - in a single admission. Choosing the right operator and the right lab is the job. We do it properly.

  • Diagnostic study or ablation?

    We will tell you honestly whether a diagnostic study alone is enough - or whether same-visit ablation is the right plan.

  • Worried about the risks?

    Modern EP labs and BHRS-accredited operators keep major-complication rates low. We quantify them clearly at consent.

  • Need a device too?

    On a combined pathway, a pacemaker, ICD or loop recorder can be implanted on the same admission.

What it shows

What an EP study and ablation are genuinely best at.

Electrophysiology earns its place for specific rhythm questions - SVT, AF, VT, WPW and syncope.

  • Recurrent SVT

    Supraventricular tachycardia mapped and, in most cases, curatively ablated at the same visit.

  • Atrial fibrillation

    Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent AF, radiofrequency or cryoballoon.

  • Ventricular tachycardia

    Mapping and ablation of VT, including scar-related VT after prior infarction or cardiomyopathy.

  • WPW

    Wolff–Parkinson–White accessory pathway localisation and ablation - a definitive, one-visit treatment.

  • Unexplained syncope

    Electrophysiology testing when Holter and loop-recorder data suggest a rhythm cause for blackouts.

  • Pre-pacemaker/ICD

    Risk stratification and pathway assessment before device implant - bradycardia, heart block or sudden-death risk.

  • Pre-ablation mapping

    3D electroanatomic mapping of complex or atypical arrhythmias to plan the safest ablation strategy.

  • Red flag - call 999

    Cardiac arrest or sustained VT are emergencies. Call 999. An EP study is for planned rhythm work-up, not acute collapse.

Study types

Not all EP studies are the same.

What each option on your referral is actually for.

  • Diagnostic EP study

    Catheter study to induce and characterise the arrhythmia, with no ablation performed.

  • SVT ablation

    Same-visit ablation of AVNRT, AVRT or atrial tachycardia - usually curative in one session.

  • AF ablation (PVI)

    Pulmonary vein isolation for symptomatic atrial fibrillation, radiofrequency or cryoballoon.

  • VT ablation

    Substrate and activation mapping of ventricular tachycardia, often in scar-related disease.

  • LAA occlusion referral

    Onward pathway for left atrial appendage occlusion when long-term anticoagulation is unsuitable.

  • Pacemaker/ICD implant

    Bradycardia, heart-block or sudden-death pathways with device implant on the same admission.

  • Loop recorder

    Implantable loop recorder for intermittent palpitations or unexplained syncope not captured on Holter.

  • Repeat EP study

    Repeat mapping and ablation after AF or VT recurrence, or to top up a prior PVI.

Safety and eligibility

Bleeding, anticoagulation, driving - and the small print.

An EP study is safe and well tolerated in the right patient. Complication rates are low in BHRS-accredited hands, and the day-of preparation matters more than most people expect.

  • Bleeding at groin access

    Small risk of bruising, haematoma or, rarely, an arterio-venous fistula at the femoral puncture site. Bed rest for a few hours reduces this.

  • Stroke and heart attack

    A small risk of stroke or heart attack applies to any left-heart procedure. Anticoagulation and intra-procedural heparin lower it significantly.

  • Atrio-oesophageal fistula

    A very rare but serious complication of AF ablation. Oesophageal temperature is monitored throughout, and post-procedure warning symptoms are explained clearly.

  • Anticoagulation, planned individually

    DOAC or warfarin dosing around the procedure is agreed with your electrophysiologist based on CHA₂DS₂-VASc score and bleeding risk.

  • Fasting from midnight

    Nil by mouth from midnight for a morning list. Essential regular medicines are taken with a small sip of water unless we say otherwise.

  • Driving restriction

    You must not drive yourself home. DVLA restrictions apply after ablation and, for longer, after ICD implant - we give written guidance.

  • Pregnancy

    EP procedures are deferred in pregnancy wherever possible because of X-ray exposure.

  • Anaesthetist on the case

    AF and VT ablations are performed under general anaesthesia or deep sedation, with a consultant anaesthetist present throughout.

  • Share prior ECGs and Holters

    Please bring or email prior 12-lead ECGs, Holter reports and any device downloads - they materially change the plan.

Reading your report

An EP report can look intimidating. It isn’t.

However detailed it looks, an EP study report keeps to the same four parts.

A consultant electrophysiologist reviewing 3D electroanatomic maps and intracardiac tracings on a clinical workstation

A quiet reminder

The report is written for your doctor, not for you — and that is normal.

Ask your care team to explain anything that is unclear.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and baseline tracings

    Your details, the clinical question, baseline 12-lead ECG and any provoked or spontaneous tracings from the study.

  2. 02 Technique

    Mapping, catheters and energy

    3D mapping system used (CARTO or EnSite), catheter set-up, ablation energy (radiofrequency or cryoballoon) and anaesthetic technique.

  3. 03 Findings

    Rhythm map and ablation lesions

    The arrhythmia mechanism, mapped circuit or focus, lesion set delivered and confirmation of block or non-inducibility.

  4. 04 Impression

    The conclusion: read this first

    Success rate for your arrhythmia, medication plan going forward, and follow-up rhythm monitoring. Your electrophysiologist discusses it in context.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about EP study and ablation.

Quick answers on cost, success rates, driving, fasting and next steps.

  • What does an electrophysiology (EP) study do?

    An EP study threads fine catheters into the heart via the femoral vein to record and stimulate its electrical activity. It reproduces the arrhythmia, maps where it originates and, in most cases, allows the electrophysiologist to ablate it at the same visit - turning a diagnosis into a treatment in one admission.

  • What are the risks of an EP study and ablation?

    Common risks are groin bruising and a small risk of haematoma. Serious risks - stroke, heart attack, cardiac perforation, phrenic-nerve injury and, for AF ablation, the very rare atrio-oesophageal fistula - are quantified at consent. Overall major-complication rates are low in high-volume BHRS-accredited hands.

  • What are the success rates for ablation?

    SVT and WPW ablation are curative in roughly 95% of cases after one session. Paroxysmal AF ablation gives 70–80% freedom from AF at one year, higher after a top-up. VT ablation success depends on substrate and underlying disease - your electrophysiologist quotes a figure specific to your case.

  • How much does a private EP study cost in London?

    SVT ablation is £8,000–£15,000. AF ablation is £14,000–£28,000 and VT ablation £16,000–£30,000.

  • Can I drive after an EP study or ablation?

    You cannot drive yourself home on the day. DVLA restrictions typically apply for a short period after ablation and for longer after ICD implant. We give written, DVLA-aligned guidance and, where relevant, an occupational-driving letter.

  • Do I need to fast before the procedure?

    Yes. Nil by mouth from midnight for a morning list, or from six hours before an afternoon slot. Essential regular medicines are taken with a small sip of water unless your electrophysiologist advises otherwise.

  • What if I am pregnant?

    EP procedures involve X-ray fluoroscopy and are deferred in pregnancy wherever possible.

  • How quickly do I get the results?

    You are debriefed on the day, and a consultant electrophysiologist report with tracings and ablation map is issued within a few days. Follow-up rhythm monitoring - Holter or loop recorder - is booked at the same time.

  • When is a pacemaker or ICD offered as well?

    If the study reveals significant bradycardia, complete heart block or sudden-death risk from an inherited condition or scar, a pacemaker or ICD is offered on the same admission where possible. We plan for this in advance so a single visit covers both.

  • When should I see a GP urgently?

    Contact your GP or 111 urgently for sudden severe palpitations with chest pain or breathlessness, blackouts, or if you feel faint on standing. Call 999 for collapse, cardiac arrest or sustained fast palpitations that will not stop.

Related tests

Looking for a different heart test?

In practice, in London

The honest picture around electrophysiology study in London

With electrophysiology study, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. Public provision for electrophysiology study is competent but constrained by capacity. Private London clinics tend to have shorter diaries and longer appointment slots, so you get the same specialists with more time. For people who’ve been going round in circles with primary care, that first proper conversation is often what shifts things.

A private electrophysiology study pathway in London usually looks like this: an initial consultation, any diagnostics booked at a nearby facility (most within Zone 1 or 2), and a written report sent to you and your GP within a few days. For electrophysiology study specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

There are dozens of consultants in London who see electrophysiology study - but not all of them are the right fit for every case. The right first appointment saves you from repeating yourself later.