How Much Does a Private Cardiologist Cost in the UK?
A private cardiologist in the UK usually charges a few hundred pounds for a first consultation, with tests such as an ECG, echocardiogram or heart monitor charged on top. At Heartsure in Kingston upon Thames, a new self-funded consultation costs £250 and a follow-up costs £200. Common tests range from £79 for an ECG done on the day of your consultation to £990 for a CT coronary angiogram. What you pay in total depends on which tests the cardiologist recommends and whether you need a follow-up appointment.
Fees vary between consultants and clinics, so the most useful thing you can do is ask for the full cost of the consultation and any likely tests before you book. This guide breaks down what each part of private cardiology care costs, gives worked examples of typical bills, and explains how insurance and NHS care fit around it.
What affects the cost of a private cardiologist
There is no single national price. The Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) says prices vary depending on the consultant, the type of procedure and the location. In practice, four things drive what you pay.
The consultation fee. This covers the cardiologist's time to take your history, examine you and make a plan.
Diagnostic tests. Most people need at least one test, and these are usually charged separately from the consultation.
Follow-up appointments. If tests are done, you will often see the cardiologist again to go through the results.
Where the tests happen. Some consultants send patients to a separate hospital for scans, which can mean a second bill from a different provider.
Since January 2019, consultants who see private patients have been required to publish their typical fees through PHIN, following action by the Competition and Markets Authority. That makes it easier to compare consultants before you commit.
Heartsure's private cardiology prices
These are Heartsure's published self-funded fees. Insured patients are billed through their insurer instead.
Appointment or test | Self-funded fee |
New consultation | £250 |
Follow-up consultation | £200 |
12-lead ECG on the day of a consultation | £79 |
12-lead ECG on its own | £89 |
12-lead ECG with a cardiologist's report | £129 |
24-hour ECG monitor | £300 |
48-hour ECG monitor | £350 |
72-hour and longer ECG monitor | £450 |
24-hour blood pressure monitor | £250 |
Exercise test (exercise ECG) | £300 |
Transthoracic echocardiogram | £450 |
Stress echocardiogram | £945 |
DVLA testing | £450 |
CT coronary angiogram | £990 |
Blood tests carry a £15 surcharge for equipment and sample taking, applied once to the total rather than per test. A blood test may be needed before a CT coronary angiogram, so it is worth confirming this when you book.
What each test is for
Knowing what a test does makes it easier to understand why it has been recommended, and whether a cheaper option might answer the same question.
A 12-lead ECG is a quick, painless recording of the heart's electrical activity and is the starting point for most assessments.
A 24, 48 or 72-hour ECG monitor records your rhythm while you go about normal life. It is useful when symptoms such as palpitations come and go, and for symptoms that are rarer still, a cardiac event recorder worn for longer may be suggested.
A 24-hour blood pressure monitor takes regular readings through the day and night. The NHS uses the same approach to confirm high blood pressure when a clinic reading is raised.
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan showing the heart's chambers, valves and pumping strength.
An exercise test or stress echo shows how the heart responds when it is working harder.
A CT coronary angiogram uses contrast dye and a CT scanner to look for narrowing in the coronary arteries. NICE guidance on chest pain recommends CT coronary angiography as a first-line test for many people whose chest pain could be angina.
Worked examples of a typical bill
These examples use Heartsure's published self-funded fees. They are illustrations, not quotes, because the tests you need depend on your symptoms and the cardiologist's assessment.
Scenario | What is included | Total |
Reassurance check | New consultation and same-day ECG | £329 |
Palpitations that come and go | New consultation, same-day ECG, 24-hour ECG monitor and follow-up | £829 |
Breathlessness or a heart murmur | New consultation, same-day ECG, echocardiogram and follow-up | £979 |
Chest pain on exertion | New consultation, same-day ECG, CT coronary angiogram and follow-up | £1,519 |
In our experience, starting with a consultation works better than self-referring for a long list of tests because the cardiologist can choose the one or two tests that answer your specific question, so you are not paying for scans that were never needed. Self-referral still has its place, particularly when your GP has already recommended a specific test such as an echocardiogram or a 24-hour blood pressure monitor.
Having your ECG on the same day as the consultation also saves money. Heartsure's fee drops from £89 to £79 when the two are combined, and the cardiologist can discuss the result with you in the same appointment.
Hidden costs to ask about
Private healthcare costs can creep up when different parts of your care are billed separately. PHIN advises self-funding patients to ask exactly what a price includes, to get a written quotation, and to remember that diagnostic tests usually carry their own charge. Before booking, it is worth asking these questions.
Is the test fee separate from the consultation fee?
Does the test price include the report, and who reviews it?
Will I need a follow-up appointment to discuss the results, and what does it cost?
Are any tests carried out by another hospital or provider that will bill me separately?
When is payment due, and how can I pay?
At Heartsure, every appointment comes with a confirmation email, a patient fee advisory and an invoice. Fees are due within 14 days of the appointment, and payment can be made by card on site, bank transfer, online payment, cash or cheque. Most tests are carried out on site, and longer ECG and blood pressure monitors are provided in partnership with CardioScan UK, so you are not passed between hospitals for the common tests.
Using private medical insurance
If you have private medical insurance, your insurer may cover some or all of the cost of seeing a cardiologist. Policies vary, so check three things before you book.
Whether you need a GP referral. Some insurers will not pay for care unless a healthcare professional made the referral.
Your outpatient limit. Many policies cap how much they will pay for consultations and tests outside a hospital stay.
Your excess. Many policies have an amount you pay yourself before cover starts.
Once you have a pre-authorisation code or claim number, Heartsure bills the insurer directly. We've found that calling your insurer before booking saves far more trouble than sorting out a declined claim afterwards, because if the policy does not cover the appointment or the details are wrong, the cost falls to the patient. Heartsure is recognised by the major UK insurers, including Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality and WPA.
Is a private cardiologist worth the cost?
For many people the deciding factor is time. At the end of June 2026, NHS England figures showed 372,094 people waiting for cardiology treatment in England, and only 68.2% of them had been waiting less than 18 weeks. The national standard is 92%.
A private appointment at Heartsure is usually arranged within a few days of referral, with same-day appointments subject to availability. Many patients are seen, scanned and diagnosed in a single visit, which also cuts down the number of separate appointments you pay for.
Paying for one part of your care privately does not affect your right to NHS treatment. Department of Health guidance states that NHS organisations should not withdraw NHS care simply because a patient chooses to buy additional private care. Many patients use a private consultation for a quicker diagnosis and then continue treatment through the NHS. Shorter waits, a choice of consultant and seeing the same specialist throughout are the main reasons people choose a private cardiologist over the NHS.
When cost should not be the deciding factor
Private cardiology is for symptoms that need checking, not for emergencies. Call 999 if you have chest pain that feels tight, heavy or crushing, pain that spreads to your arm, neck or jaw, severe breathlessness, or if someone collapses and is not responding normally.
Book a consultation
The cost of a private cardiologist comes down to three parts, the consultation, the tests and any follow-up. At Heartsure, that means £250 for a new consultation and £200 for a follow-up, with tests from £79 and every fee published in advance.
Heartsure has provided cardiology care in Kingston upon Thames since 2012, with seven consultant cardiologists and most tests carried out on site. The clinic is rated Good by the Care Quality Commission in all five areas it inspects. Contact us for a price on the consultation and tests you need, or to book an appointment.
