Concierge cardiology · London
Implantable loop recorders in the UK, for the rhythm you keep missing.
A small, discreet monitor placed under the skin in ten minutes — recording your heart rhythm for three to four years so the arrhythmias short monitors miss are finally captured.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A consultant cardiologist, in a proper cath lab
Not a walk-in clinic and not a training room. A named cardiologist or electrophysiologist, with remote monitoring set up on the day.
- 02
The right monitor for the right question
For frequent daily symptoms an external Holter is cheaper. We say so before you commit to an implant.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private implantable loop recorder costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options, including whether a shorter external monitor would answer the question first.
In short
An ILR under LA in our network: £3,000–£6,000, home the same hour.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery / data |
|---|---|---|---|
| ILR insertion under LA | £3,000–£6,000 | 10–15 min | Same visit |
| ILR insertion with light IV sedation | £3,500–£6,500 | 30 min | Same visit |
| Remote monitoring setup and first year | Included | Set up on day | Nightly transmissions |
| Device explant (end of life or diagnosis) | £800–£1,800 | 10 min LA | Same visit |
| Cardiology consultation only | £250–£450 | 30 min | Same visit |
| External 7–14 day patch monitor (alternative) | £450–£900 | Worn at home | 2 weeks |
Prices vary by clinic, by which cardiologist does the case, by the device chosen (Reveal LINQ II, LUX-Dx, Confirm Rx), and by whether sedation is added. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right monitor, the right cardiologist, the right question answered.
An ILR is the most sensitive rhythm monitor available — but only worth it when shorter monitors have already come back blank. We say so before you commit.
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Not sure it is needed?
A 7-day patch or 14-day event monitor might catch the rhythm without an implant. We say so before you agree to surgery.
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Worried about pain?
Local anaesthetic, ten minutes, home the same hour. Sedation is available if you would rather not be aware.
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Want it done properly?
A named consultant cardiologist, a proper procedure room, and remote monitoring live before you leave.
The journey
From enquiry to remote monitoring — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to end-of-life explant — including the years of monitoring in between.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
About an hour at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Symptoms, prior monitors, whether this is post-stroke workup, syncope or palpitations.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right monitor, the right cardiologist, an indicative price. If a 7-day patch is enough, we say so.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Usually within one to two weeks. Blood-thinning medication is reviewed with the team and you are told exactly how to prepare.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the clinic
Arrival, consent and a chat with the cardiologist. Local anaesthetic, with light IV sedation if you would prefer.
- 05
On the day
The insertion itself
10 to 15 minutes. A 2–3 cm incision left of the sternum, a small pocket, and the device is placed with an insertion tool. Skin closed with glue or one or two sutures.
- 06
On the day
Home the same day
Walk out within the hour. Your bedside monitor or smartphone app is paired before you leave, and remote transmission starts that night.
- 07
After
Remote monitoring and review
The pacing team reviews transmissions; you press a button for any symptomatic episode. Battery lasts 3–4 years, and the device is removed the same way once you have your answer.
Typical end-to-end: 1–2 weeks from enquiry to insertion. Monitoring lifespan: 3–4 years.
When it helps
When an implantable loop recorder is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Cryptogenic stroke or TIA workup
To detect paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after a normal 24–72h Holter — the CRYSTAL-AF question that changes anticoagulation.
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Unexplained syncope or pre-syncope
Blackouts or near-blackouts that are infrequent enough to miss on a short external monitor.
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Palpitations without an ECG diagnosis
Episodes that keep slipping past a 24-hour Holter or a two-week event monitor.
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Suspected arrhythmia in HCM, LQTS or Brugada
Symptoms in known cardiac disease where a captured rhythm changes management.
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Post-ablation surveillance
Some centres implant an ILR after atrial fibrillation ablation to quantify recurrence.
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Anticoagulation-decision uncertainty
A rhythm answer needed before committing a patient to long-term anticoagulants.
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Recurrent falls with query cardiac cause
Older patients where a rhythm cause is suspected but not yet documented.
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Red flag: syncope with injury or on exertion
Blackouts causing injury, occurring on effort, or with a family history of sudden death — this is not a clinic booking, it is same-day cardiology.
Device options
Three devices, one procedure — and the alternatives to it.
What each device on the UK market actually offers — and which suits which patient.
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Medtronic Reveal LINQ II
The most widely implanted device in the UK. Very small, MRI-conditional at 1.5T and 3T, remote transmission via the MyCareLink smartphone app.
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Boston Scientific LUX-Dx
Dual-stage detection algorithm to reduce false positives. Remote monitoring through the LATITUDE Clarity portal.
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Abbott Confirm Rx
Uses the patient’s own smartphone via Bluetooth — no bedside box needed. Popular where patients travel.
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Insertion under local anaesthetic
The standard approach. A small pocket left of the sternum, skin closed with glue or a single suture.
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Insertion with light IV sedation
Suits anxious patients who would rather not be fully aware. Adds a short recovery period.
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Remote monitoring setup
Bedside monitor or smartphone app paired before you leave; nightly transmissions arrive with the pacing team automatically.
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Patient-triggered episode capture
A button — on the app or a small trigger — that saves the last few minutes of rhythm when you feel a symptom.
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Device explant
A quick day-case under local anaesthetic once you have your answer or the battery is spent, usually 3–4 years in.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of cardiologists, we picked them.
Consultant cardiologists and electrophysiologists 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 cardiologist in our network.
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Consultant cardiologists and electrophysiologists, not trainees
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Sedation offered for anxious patients
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External monitors discussed before an implant is recommended
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Remote monitoring set up on the day and reviewed by a named pacing team
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards — honestly.
An ILR insertion is one of the least invasive things cardiology does. The things worth planning are the pocket recovery, the MRI card, and the way remote monitoring reaches you.
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A very small device, subcutaneous only
Modern loop recorders are around the size of a AAA battery half — no wires in the heart, no anchoring, no general anaesthetic needed.
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Local anaesthetic is the norm
A LA insertion is quick and comfortable. Sedation is available if you would rather not be fully aware.
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Small risk of pocket infection
Under 0.5% in published series. Dressing stays on 5–7 days and the wound is kept dry for a week.
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No heavy lifting for two weeks
Walking is fine from day one. Give the pocket a fortnight before the gym, swimming or cycling.
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MRI-conditional, not MRI-incompatible
All current UK-implanted ILRs are conditional at 1.5T and most at 3T. Show your device card to the radiographer.
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Nightly remote transmission
The device sends recordings via a bedside monitor or your phone. You do not need to do anything for this to work.
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False positives happen
Motion artefact, dense pectoral muscle and undersensing all produce spurious alerts — the pacing team filters these before contacting you.
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Battery is 3–4 years
Most people get their answer well before the battery runs out. Explant is a 10-minute LA case, done the same way as insertion.
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Red flags
Fever, spreading redness at the pocket, or a bulging haematoma after insertion are not normal — call the clinic the same day.
Reading your procedure note
Your procedure note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever device is used, the note the cardiologist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Cardiology 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
Indication and device chosen
Why the ILR was implanted — cryptogenic stroke, syncope, palpitations — and which manufacturer and model was used.
- 02 Technique
Insertion site and closure
Where in the parasternal region the pocket was made, the anaesthetic used, and how the skin was closed.
- 03 Findings
Programming and detection settings
AF, pause, brady and tachy thresholds programmed at implant, plus how patient-triggered recordings are enabled.
- 04 Impression
Follow-up, remote monitoring, next steps
Read this first: how transmissions are reviewed, when to expect contact, and what triggers a call from the pacing team.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for an ILR varies by insurer and by indication — routinely funded when medically indicated (cryptogenic stroke, unexplained syncope, arrhythmia workup) and typically requires a specialist referral. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about implantable loop recorders.
Quick answers on cost, MRI compatibility, remote monitoring and when the device comes out.
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What is an implantable loop recorder?
A very small device — about the size of half a AAA battery — placed just under the skin to the left of your breastbone. It records your heart rhythm continuously for 3–4 years and sends daily transmissions to your cardiology team, so infrequent arrhythmias that other monitors miss can finally be captured.
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Why would I need one instead of a Holter or patch monitor?
Holters run for 24–72 hours and patches for up to two weeks. If your symptoms are less often than that — a blackout every few months, a stroke with no clear cause — those monitors will keep coming back normal. NICE recommends an ILR after cryptogenic stroke when short-duration monitoring is negative, because the AF detection rate is much higher over three years.
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Does the insertion hurt?
During the procedure you feel a scratch of local anaesthetic and pressure, nothing more. Afterwards the pocket is tender for a few days and controlled with paracetamol. Most people are back at a desk the next day.
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How much does an ILR cost privately in the UK?
Roughly £3,000–£6,000 for the device, insertion, and remote monitoring in the first year. Explant at end of life or once a diagnosis is made is £800–£1,800. On the NHS it is fully funded for the indications NICE endorses (cryptogenic stroke, unexplained syncope, selected arrhythmia workup).
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How long does the battery last?
Three to four years depending on how much data the device transmits. Most patients get their answer within the first year for syncope, and within two to three years for cryptogenic stroke.
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Can I have an MRI with an ILR?
Yes — every ILR currently implanted in the UK is MRI-conditional at 1.5T, and most models are also cleared at 3T. Show your device card to the radiographer beforehand so the correct scanning protocol is used.
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Do I have to do anything for the monitoring?
Very little. A bedside box or your smartphone pairs with the device on the day of insertion and transmits automatically at night. You press a button on the app if you have a symptom, so the rhythm at that moment is saved.
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When is it removed?
The device is removed as a 10-minute local-anaesthetic case — either when the battery is low, or once your team has the diagnosis they need. The scar softens and fades over the following months.
Related tests
Looking for something else?
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ICD implantation
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EP study and ablation
Electrophysiology study and catheter ablation for arrhythmia.
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Atrial fibrillation
Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of AF.
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All tests
Every test and procedure we arrange.
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