I'M A PATIENT

If you are an NHS Patient, please visit the I’m an NHS Patient page for further information about what to expect from an appointment with Ultracardiac.

Private services

Priced to be affordable for the many, and often with waiting times a matter of days, we can offer a top-quality service to our self-funding patients at a much lower cost than many of our competitors. We offer heart scans, ECGs, Holter Monitors and Consultations from our clinics in Truro, Plymouth and Exeter.

You do not need a GP-referral to see us, and we will happily share the results from your investigations with your doctors if you would like us to. Our cardiologist can review your heart scan images and report, or ECG/Monitor Reports, and offer their advice on the onward management of your care.

Whether you are just after a general check-up on your heart health, are wanting to avoid lengthy waiting lists, or are unable to be referred by your doctor, Ultracardiac can support you as a private patient with our affordable, fast and friendly services.
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What is an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram, or ‘echo’, is an ultrasound scan of the heart. It is a very similar procedure to an antenatal scan, where gel is applied to your chest, and our echocardiographer will move a probe around to capture videos and images of your heart. Echocardiogram appointments are 45 minutes long, however the image acquisition part may not take this full amount of time. To be on the safe side, you should plan to be with us for around 45 minutes on the day. From the images and measurements taken, we can make an assessment of the structure and function of your heart.

Why might I need an echocardiogram?

There are many reasons why you might need this test, here are a common few:

• You may be breathless, or have a build-up of fluid
• To help assess how well your heart is pumping (function)
• To help assess the cause of a heart murmur
• To help assess how well the valves in your heart are working
• You may have an irregular heart rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation (AF)
• To help assess the size of the chambers, or muscle thickness in your heart
• You may have a family history of cardiac conditions
• As part of a medical certification
• For athletes as part of a full cardiac assessment
• General peace-of-mind

What is an ECG?

An ECG (12 lead), or electrocardiograph, is a test that can be performed to assess your hearts electrical activity and rhythm. We will attach sensors to your skin that detect the electrical activity every time your heart beats, and our machine records these in an ECG. These can usually be interpreted by your doctor, or we can have our cardiologist summarise the findings for you.

What is a Holter Monitor?

Our Holter Monitors are small, wearable devices that we stick to your chest that allow a continuous ECG recording over a period of time. This can be anything from 24 hours to a full 7 days, and is sometimes referred to as ambulatory monitoring. A Holter Monitor may be advised if your symptoms are intermittent, and where a traditional ECG is not appropriate.