Concierge cardiology · London
Private exercise stress test in London, supervised by a consultant cardiologist.
A supervised exercise test that shows how the heart behaves under load — for chest-pain investigation, arrhythmia work-up, and pre-operative fitness. Read by a consultant cardiologist.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right test, not the quick one
We match the protocol to the question — treadmill, echo, MPI or CPET.
- 02
Supervised by a cardiologist
A consultant cardiologist is present throughout and reports the study.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private exercise stress testing 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 treadmill stress ECG in our network: £350-£650; a stress echo £700-£1,300.
| Scan type | Indicative range | Typical duration | Report turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard treadmill stress ECG | £350–£650 | 45–60 min | Same-day report |
| Stress ECG + cardiologist review | £500–£950 | 60–90 min | Same visit |
| Stress echocardiogram | £700–£1,300 | 60–90 min | 24–72 hrs |
| CPET (cardiopulmonary exercise test) | £700–£1,400 | 60–90 min | 3–7 days |
| Nuclear stress test (MPI) | £1,500–£2,600 | 3–4 hrs | 3–5 days |
| Stress cardiac MRI | £1,500–£2,500 | 60–90 min | 48–72 hrs |
Prices vary by clinic, protocol, whether imaging is added and whether a consultant review is included. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
A resting ECG can look fine. The heart under load is another story.
Many important cardiac problems only show themselves when the heart is working hard. Matching the stress protocol to the question — treadmill, echo, MPI or CPET — is the entire job. That is what we get right.
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Symptoms only on exertion?
A supervised stress test is designed to reproduce and record them safely.
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Referral says "treadmill" only?
Sometimes stress echo, MPI or CPET is the right answer — we advise before you book.
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Want a cardiologist in the room?
We route to clinics where a consultant supervises every test in person.
The journey
From enquiry to report — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to explained result — same visit for a treadmill test, a few days for imaging or CPET.
Phase 1 · Before your test
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
~60 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 stress test, 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
Comfortable clothes and trainers. Electrodes go on the chest; the cardiologist reviews your history and consents you.
- 05
On the day
The test
You walk on a treadmill (or cycle) on a graded protocol while ECG, BP and symptoms are monitored. Stress echo or MPI adds imaging at peak.
- 06
On the day
Recovery on the couch
Monitoring continues for a few minutes until heart rate, BP and ECG settle back to baseline.
- 07
After
Report and next steps
Consultant cardiologist report same visit for stress ECG, 24-72 hours for stress echo, 3-7 days for CPET and nuclear studies.
Typical end-to-end: same visit to 7 days. Urgent cases: same day.
What it shows
Find the stress test that matches your question.
Exercise stress testing spans investigation, screening and follow-up. These are the questions we are asked to answer most.
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Chest pain investigation
Reproduces symptoms under load and looks for ischaemic ECG or wall-motion changes.
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Unexplained breathlessness
CPET separates cardiac, pulmonary and deconditioning causes with VO2 data.
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Exercise-induced arrhythmia
Provokes and captures rhythm disturbances that only appear on exertion.
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Pre-syncope on exertion
Looks for a haemodynamic or ischaemic cause behind exercise-related light-headedness.
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Pre-operative fitness
Objectively grades fitness and cardiac reserve before major surgery.
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Athlete screening
Detects electrical, ischaemic or rhythm concerns before serious training loads.
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Post-revascularisation follow-up
Confirms functional benefit after stent or bypass and screens for recurrence.
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Red flag: severe symptoms during
Severe chest pain, collapse or crushing breathlessness during exertion — call 999.
Stress tests
Not all stress tests are the same.
What each option on your referral is actually for.
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Treadmill ECG (Bruce protocol)
The standard graded treadmill test with continuous ECG and blood-pressure monitoring.
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Bicycle stress ECG
Same physiology on an upright or supine bike — useful when treadmill is not practical.
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Stress echo
Ultrasound of the heart at rest and immediately at peak to look for wall-motion changes.
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Nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI)
Radiotracer imaging that maps blood flow to the heart muscle at rest and stress.
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Stress cardiac MRI
High-resolution imaging of perfusion and function under pharmacological stress.
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CPET (with VO2 max)
Adds breath-by-breath gas analysis to give a full metabolic and cardiopulmonary profile.
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Dobutamine stress echo (drug)
A drug-induced heart-rate rise for patients who cannot exercise, with echo imaging.
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Adenosine stress MPI/MRI (drug)
A drug-induced coronary vasodilator for perfusion imaging when exercise is not possible.
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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Consultant cardiologists supervise every stress test in person
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Full resuscitation kit present, checked and drilled
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BSCI/BSE-accredited operators for stress echo studies
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Same-day cardiology consultation available when findings need it
Safety and eligibility
Highly monitored, but not risk-free.
A stress test is one of the more supervised investigations in cardiology. The practical points are what to wear, what to take, and when the test should be paused or deferred.
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Small serious-event risk
Around 1 in 10,000 — full resuscitation kit and consultant supervision are present throughout.
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Take usual cardiac medications
Continue your normal medication unless you have been specifically told otherwise.
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What to wear
Comfortable clothing and trainers. You will need to expose your chest for electrodes.
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Eating and drinking
No heavy meal in the two hours before the test — a light snack is fine.
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Caffeine
Avoid coffee, tea and energy drinks beforehand — they interfere with heart-rate response.
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Signs to stop
Tell the team immediately about chest pain, severe breathlessness or dizziness — the test is stopped straight away.
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Beta-blockers
These may need pausing to reach target heart rate — a specialist decision, never stop them yourself.
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Pregnancy
Exercise stress testing is usually deferred in pregnancy unless clearly indicated.
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Not for uncontrolled hypertension
Very high resting blood pressure is a contraindication — we will treat first and reschedule.
Reading your report
A stress-test report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whether a treadmill ECG, a stress echo or CPET, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
A normal stress test is reassuring — but it does not exclude every cause of chest pain.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
The clinical indication
Your details, the referring question and the symptoms behind the test.
- 02 Technique
Protocol, target HR and duration
The exercise protocol used, the heart-rate target reached and how long the test lasted.
- 03 Findings
ECG, BP, symptoms and imaging
ECG changes, blood-pressure response, symptoms and — where done — echo or MPI images.
- 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 exercise stress testing.
Quick answers on cost, referrals, safety, preparation and results.
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What does a stress test actually show?
It shows how the heart behaves under load — heart rate and blood-pressure response, ECG changes suggesting ischaemia, exercise-induced arrhythmias and, if imaging is added, wall-motion or perfusion problems in the heart muscle.
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Treadmill or bike — does it matter?
For most people, the treadmill Bruce protocol is the standard and gets you to peak fastest. A bike is used when the treadmill is not practical, for CPET, or for supine imaging with stress echo.
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When is nuclear or MRI stress imaging added?
When the resting ECG is uninterpretable, when a plain treadmill test is inconclusive, or when we need to localise which coronary territory is affected. The cardiologist decides on the day or in advance.
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How much does a private stress test cost in London?
A standard treadmill stress ECG is £350-£650, and with cardiologist review £500-£950. Stress echo runs £700-£1,300, CPET £700-£1,400 and nuclear MPI £1,500-£2,600. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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Do I need a referral?
Some clinics accept self-referral for a treadmill stress ECG. Stress echo, CPET, MPI and stress MRI generally need a cardiologist referral — we arrange a fast-track private cardiology appointment where needed.
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Is it safe?
It is one of the more monitored tests in cardiology, but not risk-free. The rate of a serious event is around 1 in 10,000. A consultant cardiologist supervises throughout and full resuscitation kit is present.
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Do I need to fast?
No fasting is needed. Avoid a heavy meal in the two hours before, skip caffeine on the day, and take your usual medication unless specifically told otherwise.
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How quickly will I get the result?
A treadmill stress ECG is usually discussed on the day. Stress echo reports come back in 24-72 hours, CPET and nuclear studies in 3-7 days, stress MRI in 48-72 hours.
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Will my insurance cover it?
Most policies cover cardiac stress testing 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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When should I see a GP instead?
If chest pain is new, severe or at rest, or if you have collapsed, do not book a stress test — call 999 or see your GP the same day. A stress test is a planned, investigative test, not an emergency assessment.
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