Cardiology

The cost of treatment will be different for every person. We build a bespoke treatment plan for every patient we see, and the final cost will depend on what this includes.

If you're paying for yourself, we will give you a fixed-price package ahead of time so that you know exactly what you'll be paying for. This includes aftercare, too, should you need help with your recovery.

If your treatment is covered by your private health insurance, you won't normally have to worry about bills.

There are many different conditions that can affect your heart and its ability to pump blood round your body. Heart problems are more common than you might think.

Statistics from The British Heart Foundation show that more than 160,000 people die each year in the UK because of heart and circulatory diseases. An estimated 43,000 of those people are under 75.

Heart health is closely tied to your overall health. Even seemingly innocuous cardiological problems, for example high blood pressure, can lead on to further health complications.

If you are at all worried that you might have a problem with your heart, a cardiologist can help you to get an accurate picture of the health of your cardiovascular system and advise you on how to take control of your heart health.

It's especially important to keep an eye on your heart health if you have a family history of heart disease or heart problems, if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or if you have a condition that is known to contribute to or be related to heart disease - for example diabetes.

People commonly visit our consultant cardiologists with symptoms such as:

• Chest pains
• High blood pressure
• Low blood pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• Dizzy spells or fainting
• Unexplained weakness or fatigue
• Rapid or irregular pulse
• Anxiety

These symptoms can all be signs of many things, not just heart disease, but your GP or consultant will be able to tell you whether you need investigative tests.

Some of the most common cardiovascular diseases (also known as cardiovascular disorders) we see at Circle Health Group include:

• Coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease)
• Heart attack
• Valve disease
• Arrhythmias
• Congenital heart disease
• Heart failure
• Vascular disease
• Stroke
• Angina

This is just a selection of the conditions we most commonly see patients for. If you don't see your heart condition listed, please do get in touch.

At Circle Health Group, we offer a variety of different treatments for heart problems. Our consultants are highly experienced in treating everything from high blood pressure to heart failure.

Most commonly, if you come to see one of our specialists, they will start by running one or more non-invasive tests to diagnose your problem. Once they have identified the cause of your symptoms, they might prescribe medication or even cardiac surgery.

Non-invasive cardiology diagnostics

Some of the most common cardiological tests we perform are:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG) test
• Ambulatory ECG test
• Cardiac stress test (stress ECG)
• Blood pressure test
• Ambulatory (24 hour) blood pressure monitoring
• Chest X-ray
• Echocardiogram
• Trans-oesophageal echocardiogram
• Stress echocardiogram
• Tilt table test
• Cardiac CT scan
• MRI scan
• Sleep apnoea screening

Preventative cardiology

Our cardiologists also specialise in the prevention of heart problems, helping to catch the warning signs early and reduce your chances of serious issues in the long term.

We will work with you to reduce your cardiovascular risk level. We can fully assess everything from your blood pressure to your cholesterol levels, as well as looking at your fitness levels and diet. From there we'll help guide you through effective lifestyle changes, from nutritional advice to exercise plans, which can significantly reduce your risk of conditions including heart disease and heart failure.

Heart surgery

If you need heart surgery, this will be performed by a consultant cardiac surgeon. Types of heart surgery we perform include:

• Angioplasty
• Coronary artery bypass (heart bypass)
• Catheter ablation
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
• Implantable ECG recorder
• Pacemaker implantation
• Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)
• Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR)

The first step is usually an initial consultation. Unless your GP or insurer has told you otherwise, you should book your first appointment with one of our cardiology consultants.

You can do this by calling our dedicated team of friendly advisors, or by taking advantage of our easy online booking system.

At Circle Health Group, there are three ways you can pay for treatment. You can use your private health insurance, you can pay for yourself in full, or you can us our flexible payment options to spread the cost.

If you have private medical insurance, speak to your insurer about how to get a referral to one of our hospitals. We work with all major health insurance providers.

If you are paying for your own treatment and would like to spread the cost to make it more affordable, we work with Chrysalis Finance to offer loans that can be paid back over a period of one to five years.

When you choose to go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:

• Flexible appointment times to fit your schedule
• The freedom to choose your hospital and your consultant
• Bespoke, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Private ensuite rooms as standard
• Tasty and nutritious meals cooked onsite to your dietary requirements
• Support from the same compassionate clinical team from beginning to end
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help spread the cost of your care

If you want to know more about cardiology and how we can help you look after your heart, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009.

Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in August 2022. Next review due August 2025.