Concierge cardiology · UK
EP study and catheter ablation, by a consultant electrophysiologist.
A proper electrophysiology study and ablation in a dedicated cath lab — RF, cryoballoon or pulsed field ablation (FARAPULSE) — matched to your arrhythmia, not to whatever the hospital happens to stock.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A consultant electrophysiologist, in a cath lab
Not a general cardiologist and not a district hospital list. A named EP consultant, a dedicated electrophysiology lab, 3D mapping in the room.
- 02
The right technology for your arrhythmia
RF, cryoballoon or pulsed field ablation (FARAPULSE) — matched to the rhythm and the anatomy, not to whatever the lab happens to stock.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no hospital, so the choice of operator and technique is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private EP study and ablation costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner cath labs. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
Cryoballoon AF ablation in our network: £16,000–£22,000, home the next morning.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| SVT ablation (AVNRT, AVRT/WPW, AT) | £11,000–£16,000 | 2–3 hr | Same-day discharge |
| Typical atrial flutter ablation | £10,000–£14,000 | 1.5–2 hr | Same-day discharge |
| AF ablation — cryoballoon PVI | £16,000–£22,000 | 2 hr | Overnight stay |
| AF ablation — RF point-by-point | £18,000–£25,000 | 2.5–3 hr | Overnight stay |
| AF ablation — pulsed field (FARAPULSE) | £20,000–£28,000 | 1.5–2 hr | Overnight stay |
| VT ablation (idiopathic or structural) | £18,000–£35,000 | 3–5 hr | Overnight stay |
| Diagnostic EP study only | £6,000–£9,000 | 1 hr | Same-day discharge |
| Consultation only | £250–£450 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by hospital, by which electrophysiologist does the case, by the energy source chosen (RF, cryo or PFA), and by whether ICE or additional mapping is used. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right operator, the right technology, the right timing.
Ablation outcomes vary widely by operator volume and by whether the lab has 3D mapping, ICE and pulsed field capability. It is not a commodity — and it should not be booked as one.
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Not sure ablation is needed yet?
For some paroxysmal AF a rhythm-control drug is worth trying first. For SVT and typical flutter, ablation is the answer — and we say so.
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Worried about the risks?
A high-volume EP consultant with ICE and PFA has a very different risk profile from a low-volume RF-only operator. It matters where you have this done.
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Want the newest technology?
Pulsed field ablation (FARAPULSE) is now standard in most high-volume UK EP centres. We route you to an operator with real PFA experience.
The journey
From enquiry to review — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to review — including the three-month AF blanking period.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A few hours in the cath lab
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You send us your ECGs and history
A short, confidential form. Symptoms, any Holter or event-monitor traces, echo report, current drugs.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right EP consultant, the right technique (RF, cryo or PFA), an indicative price. If ablation is not the right step yet, we say so.
- 03
Before
We arrange the admission
Usually within one to three weeks. Anticoagulation is reviewed — DOACs are typically continued for AF cases — and you are told exactly how to prepare.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the hospital
Admission, bloods, ECG, and a chat with the electrophysiologist and anaesthetist. GA or deep sedation depending on the case and operator.
- 05
On the day
The study and ablation itself
Femoral vein access, catheters advanced to the heart, 3D map built, arrhythmia induced and mapped, then ablated. Two to four hours in the lab.
- 06
On the day
Recovery and overnight stay
Four to six hours of flat bed rest for the groin. Most AF patients stay overnight; SVT and flutter cases often go home the same day.
- 07
After
Recovery and review
Driving in 48 hours, no heavy lifting for a week, back to full exertion at 7 days. A three-month blanking period for AF, then a review with rhythm monitoring.
Typical end-to-end: 2–3 weeks from enquiry to procedure. AF blanking period: 3 months.
When it helps
When catheter ablation is the right step.
The arrhythmias we treat most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Symptomatic AF that comes and goes. NICE (NG196) recommends ablation second-line after a failed rhythm-control drug — often first-line for younger, symptomatic patients.
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Persistent atrial fibrillation
AF lasting more than seven days. Ablation is offered when rate and rhythm drugs fail, with a lower single-procedure success rate than paroxysmal AF.
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Typical atrial flutter
The cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) circuit. Ablation cures over 95% of typical flutter — usually the first treatment offered.
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AVNRT (sudden fast palpitations)
The commonest SVT in adults. NICE-recommended first-line ablation with a cure rate above 95% and a very low risk profile.
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WPW / accessory pathway (AVRT)
A pre-excited ECG or documented AVRT. Ablation is first-line, particularly for symptomatic patients or high-risk pathway features.
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Focal atrial tachycardia
A single ectopic focus firing in the atrium. Mapping and ablation is definitive when drugs are ineffective or unwanted.
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Idiopathic VT (outflow tract, fascicular)
VT in a structurally normal heart — typically RVOT or LVOT origin. High cure rates and a good alternative to lifelong drugs.
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Red flag: syncope with palpitations
Fainting during palpitations, a family history of sudden death or a broad-complex tachycardia is urgent — same-day cardiology, not a routine referral.
Procedure options
RF, cryo or pulsed field — the choice matters.
What each energy source and mapping tool actually does — and which fits which arrhythmia.
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Diagnostic EP study
Catheters map the heart’s conduction and try to induce the arrhythmia. Sometimes the whole answer, sometimes the prelude to ablation.
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Radiofrequency (RF) ablation
Point-by-point heating to create precise lesions. The workhorse technique for SVT, flutter, VT and much AF work.
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Cryoballoon ablation
A single-shot balloon freezes each pulmonary vein in turn. Fast, reproducible, widely used for paroxysmal AF.
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Pulsed field ablation (FARAPULSE)
Non-thermal electroporation. Selective for cardiac muscle, spares the oesophagus and phrenic nerve, and is now MHRA-approved and displacing RF/cryo for many AF cases.
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3D electroanatomic mapping
CARTO or Ensite systems build a real-time 3D map of the chamber and every ablation lesion. Standard of care for complex cases.
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Intracardiac echo (ICE)
A catheter-mounted ultrasound guides transseptal puncture and confirms catheter contact. Reduces fluoroscopy and improves safety.
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Oesophageal temperature probe
A thin probe monitors oesophageal temperature during left atrial RF work — a small but important safety layer against atrio-oesophageal injury.
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Consultation only
An honest EP opinion on whether ablation is the right step, and which technique fits — no obligation to proceed.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of electrophysiologists, we picked them.
Consultant EPs across London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every electrophysiologist in our network.
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Consultant electrophysiologists, high-volume operators only
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Dedicated EP labs with 3D mapping (CARTO or Ensite) as standard
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Pulsed field ablation (FARAPULSE) available where clinically appropriate
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ICE guidance and oesophageal temperature monitoring for left atrial cases
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards — honestly.
Catheter ablation is a well-established procedure with a small but real complication profile. The things worth planning are your groin care, your driving break and your rhythm-monitoring follow-up.
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Cardiac tamponade (~1%)
A small collection of blood around the heart from catheter perforation. Managed with pericardial drainage in the lab; a rare but recognised complication of transseptal work.
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Femoral haematoma or pseudoaneurysm
Groin bruising is common. A pseudoaneurysm — a persistent pulsatile lump — occurs in about 1% and usually settles with ultrasound-guided compression.
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Phrenic nerve palsy
Mostly seen with right-sided cryoballoon work when the right phrenic runs close to the right superior pulmonary vein. Usually temporary; PFA has largely removed this risk.
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Atrio-oesophageal fistula
Catastrophic but very rare (well under 1 in 1,000). A specific RF risk that PFA appears to eliminate — one of the main reasons PFA is being adopted.
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Stroke or TIA
Around 0.5% for left atrial work. Minimised by uninterrupted DOAC, heparinisation during the case, and careful transseptal technique.
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Pulmonary vein stenosis
A narrowing at the ablation site. Now uncommon with ostial ablation techniques and rarer still with PFA.
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Sedation and anaesthetic risks
General anaesthesia or deep sedation carries the usual small risks. AF ablation is often done under GA to keep the chest still during ablation.
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Groin care and driving
Flat bed rest for four to six hours, no heavy lifting for a week, no driving for 48 hours, and full exertion back at seven days.
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Red flags after discharge
Chest pain, breathlessness, a swollen or expanding groin, fever, or neurological symptoms — call the on-call team or A&E the same day.
Reading your procedure note
Your EP procedure note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever technique was used, the note the electrophysiologist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
EP language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Arrhythmia diagnosed and technique used
Which rhythm was induced and mapped — AVNRT, AVRT, flutter, AF or VT — and whether RF, cryo or PFA was used.
- 02 Technique
Access, mapping and lesion set
Femoral access, transseptal puncture (for left atrial cases), the 3D map, and exactly where lesions were placed. For AF: pulmonary vein isolation confirmed by entrance and exit block.
- 03 Findings
Acute success and re-inducibility
Whether the arrhythmia was terminated, whether it could still be induced afterwards, and any incidental findings (dual AV nodal physiology, non-PV triggers).
- 04 Impression
Blanking period, drugs and follow-up
Read this first: the three-month blanking period for AF, DOAC continuation, any antiarrhythmic drug plan, and when the follow-up rhythm monitor is booked.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for EP study and ablation varies by insurer and by arrhythmia — usually funded when medically indicated with a documented rhythm. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about EP study and ablation.
Quick answers on success rates, pulsed field ablation, cost, and how much time off work you actually need.
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What is an EP study and catheter ablation?
An electrophysiology (EP) study uses thin catheters passed from the groin into the heart to map its electrical circuits. If an abnormal rhythm is found, catheter ablation uses radiofrequency energy, freezing (cryo) or pulsed field energy to destroy the tissue driving the arrhythmia — often in the same session.
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Is catheter ablation the right treatment for my atrial fibrillation?
NICE (NG196) recommends ablation after a failed rhythm-control drug for symptomatic AF, and ESC 2024 guidance supports earlier ablation for paroxysmal AF, especially in younger, symptomatic patients. It is not usually offered for asymptomatic AF where rate control is adequate.
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How successful is catheter ablation?
For SVT (AVNRT, AVRT) and typical atrial flutter, single-procedure cure rates are above 95%. Paroxysmal AF sits at around 75–85% freedom from AF at one year after a single procedure; persistent AF is 50–60%. VT success depends heavily on whether the heart is structurally normal.
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What is pulsed field ablation (FARAPULSE)?
PFA is a non-thermal energy that opens pores in cardiac cell membranes. It is selective for heart muscle, spares the oesophagus and phrenic nerve, and shortens AF procedures. It is MHRA-approved and now offered by most high-volume UK EP centres — often the preferred technology for paroxysmal AF.
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How much does private AF ablation cost in the UK?
Cryoballoon PVI runs around £16,000–£22,000, RF point-by-point £18,000–£25,000, and pulsed field ablation £20,000–£28,000. SVT and flutter ablation are typically £10,000–£16,000. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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Do I stay in hospital overnight?
Most SVT and flutter patients go home the same day. AF and VT patients usually stay one night for observation, groin care and a repeat ECG the following morning.
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When can I drive and go back to work?
No driving for 48 hours (DVLA rule after an ablation). Office work is fine in 2–3 days. No heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for a week. Airline travel is usually safe after 48 hours.
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What are the main risks?
Cardiac tamponade is around 1%. Femoral haematoma or pseudoaneurysm about 1%. Stroke around 0.5% for left atrial cases. Phrenic nerve palsy is a specific cryo risk; atrio-oesophageal fistula is a rare RF risk that PFA largely removes. Sedation and anaesthetic risks are the usual small ones.