Concierge cardiology · London
Private stress echocardiogram in London, read by a cardiologist.
A specialist heart-ultrasound performed under exercise or drug stress — the most sensitive non-invasive test for reversible ischaemia and valve behaviour under load.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right protocol, not the quick one
Exercise or dobutamine — we match the protocol to the question and to what your body can do on the day.
- 02
Read by a consultant cardiologist with echo accreditation
A BSE-accredited consultant cardiologist performs and 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 stress echo costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
An exercise stress echo in our network: £700–£1,300; with a consultant review £900–£1,700.
| Scan type | Indicative range | Typical duration | Report turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise stress echo (treadmill or bike) | £700–£1,300 | 60–90 min | 24–72 hrs |
| Dobutamine stress echo (drug) | £800–£1,500 | 60–90 min | 48–72 hrs |
| Stress echo + cardiologist review | £900–£1,700 | 90–120 min | Same visit |
| Contrast-enhanced stress echo | £900–£1,700 | 60–90 min | 48–72 hrs |
| Diastolic stress echo | £700–£1,300 | 60–90 min | 48–72 hrs |
| Follow-up / surveillance stress echo | £600–£1,100 | 60–90 min | 48–72 hrs |
Prices vary by clinic, time of day, whether contrast or a dobutamine infusion is required, and whether a consultant review is included. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
A stress echo is only useful if the right protocol is done, and read properly.
Exercise or dobutamine, treadmill or bike, with or without contrast — matching the protocol to the clinical question, and getting it reported by an accredited cardiologist, is the entire job. That is what we get right.
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Exertional chest pain?
An exercise stress echo is usually the right first step — and we can arrange it within days.
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Cannot exercise on a treadmill?
A dobutamine stress echo raises the heart rate pharmacologically, with the same diagnostic yield.
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Want a consultant to read it?
We route to clinics where a BSE-accredited consultant cardiologist performs and 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
~60–90 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: exercise or dobutamine, 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 change into comfortable clothing. Baseline ECG, blood pressure and a resting echo are recorded first.
- 05
On the day
The stress phase
Treadmill or bike exercise to target heart rate — or a dobutamine infusion if you cannot exercise. Full resuscitation kit is in the room.
- 06
On the day
Straight home
You recover for 10–15 minutes while heart rate settles. Most people leave within 90 minutes and drive themselves 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.
Exertional cardiac symptoms differ enormously in pattern. These are the questions we are asked to answer most.
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Reversible ischaemia
New wall-motion abnormalities that appear only under stress — the hallmark of a significant coronary narrowing.
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Chest pain investigation
Work-up for exertional chest pain when the resting ECG and echo are normal.
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Unexplained breathlessness
Distinguishes cardiac from non-cardiac causes when breathlessness only appears on exertion.
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Valve disease under load
Assesses aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation and other valve lesions during exercise.
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Regional wall motion
Detects segmental changes that betray disease in a specific coronary territory.
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Dobutamine option (if unable to exercise)
Pharmacological stress for patients who cannot walk on a treadmill or pedal a bike.
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Post-revascularisation
Follow-up after stents or bypass surgery to check patency and functional recovery.
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Red flag: severe symptoms
Crushing chest pain, collapse or severe breathlessness at rest — call 999. This is not a service for emergencies.
Stress echo types
Not all stress echos are the same.
What each option on your referral is actually for.
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Exercise treadmill stress echo
The commonest protocol — Bruce protocol treadmill exercise with immediate post-exercise imaging.
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Exercise bicycle stress echo
Upright or supine bike — allows imaging during exercise, not just after, for higher sensitivity.
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Dobutamine stress echo
An intravenous inotrope infusion is used to raise heart rate when exercise is not possible.
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Contrast-enhanced stress echo
Microbubble contrast improves endocardial border definition when standard images are difficult.
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Diastolic stress echo
Assesses filling pressures on exertion in suspected heart-failure with preserved ejection fraction.
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Post-MI risk stratification
Used after a heart attack to identify residual ischaemia or viable but hibernating myocardium.
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Valve-disease stress echo
Symptomatic patients with borderline aortic or mitral valve disease — assesses gradients under load.
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Paediatric stress echo (specialist)
Specialist stress echo in children, 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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Consultant cardiologists with BSE accreditation performing and reporting every study
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Resuscitation kit and drug-response protocols in the room throughout
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High-quality echo machines with contrast and strain capability
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Results interpreted same day where possible, with onward cardiology if needed
Safety and eligibility
Safe when done in the right hands.
Stress echo is safe, but not entirely without risk — the practical points are medication, meal and caffeine timing, and knowing what to expect on the day.
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Small serious-event risk
Stress echo is safe, but a small risk of arrhythmia or ischaemia exists — full resuscitation kit and a consultant are present throughout.
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Take usual cardiac medication
Continue your usual heart medication unless a cardiologist has specifically told you otherwise.
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Comfortable clothing
Wear loose clothing and trainers you can exercise in. You will undress to the waist for the imaging.
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No heavy meal two hours before
Eat a light meal at least two hours before. Do not arrive hungry — a small snack is fine.
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Caffeine avoided
No coffee, tea, energy drinks or chocolate for 12 hours before a dobutamine study.
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Beta-blocker may need pausing
A beta-blocker can blunt the heart-rate response — the specialist decides whether to pause it.
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Dobutamine causes transient palpitations
A brief fluttering feeling during the infusion is expected and settles within minutes of stopping.
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Pregnancy usually deferred
Stress echo is usually deferred in pregnancy unless clinically urgent — the resting echo remains completely safe.
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Signs to stop discussed on the day
The team goes through the symptoms that would prompt stopping the test before it starts.
Reading your report
A stress echo report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whether exercise or dobutamine, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
A normal stress 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 indication
Your details, the protocol used, and the clinical question behind the study.
- 02 Technique
Protocol, target HR, drug used
Which protocol (Bruce, bike, dobutamine), the target heart rate achieved and any drugs administered.
- 03 Findings
Wall motion at rest and stress, EF, valves
Wall motion at rest and stress, ejection fraction, and valve behaviour under load.
- 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 stress echocardiography.
Quick answers on cost, referrals, exercise vs dobutamine, safety and results.
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What does a stress echocardiogram show?
A stress echo shows how the heart muscle contracts under stress — either exercise or a drug. New wall-motion abnormalities that appear only under stress point to a significant coronary narrowing. It also shows how valves behave under load and how filling pressures rise on exertion.
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Exercise vs dobutamine — which is right for me?
Exercise is preferred when you can walk on a treadmill or pedal a bike, because it also gives functional information about symptoms and exercise capacity. Dobutamine is used when exercise is not possible — for example, in significant arthritis or peripheral vascular disease. The consultant chooses based on your history.
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How much does a private stress echo cost in London?
An exercise stress echo is typically £700–£1,300, and a dobutamine stress echo £800–£1,500. Bundled with a consultant cardiology review it is £900–£1,700. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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Do I need a referral?
A referral is usually preferred because stress echo carries a small risk and needs proper indication. We can arrange a fast-track private cardiologist consultation first if you do not have one.
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Is a stress echo safe?
Stress echo is one of the safest cardiac stress tests. There is a small risk of arrhythmia or ischaemia — well under 1 in 1,000 serious events — and full resuscitation kit and a consultant are present throughout the study.
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Do I need to fast?
You do not need to fast fully. Avoid a heavy meal for two hours before, and avoid caffeine for 12 hours before a dobutamine study. Take your usual medication with a sip of water unless told otherwise.
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How quickly will I get results?
The consultant cardiologist usually gives you a preliminary result at the end of the visit. The written report follows in 24–72 hours and is routed to your GP or specialist.
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When would a nuclear or MRI stress test be used instead?
Nuclear stress (myocardial perfusion) or stress cardiac MRI are alternatives when the echo images are technically difficult, when the question is about viability, or when the specialist wants perfusion rather than wall-motion data. We can arrange either.
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Will my insurance cover it?
Most policies cover stress echo 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 first?
If you have severe chest pain, collapse or breathlessness at rest, call 999 — this is not a service for emergencies. For stable exertional symptoms, seeing a GP or a cardiologist first is usually the right sequence, and we can help you organise both.
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