Echocardiogram

– Cardiac Imaging

A detailed ultrasound of your heart — revealing its structure, valve function and pumping efficiency in real time.

Appointment Duration

30–45 min

Preparation

None Required

Results

3-5 days

price

£720

Location

Partner hospital – Surrey or London

– What is an Echocardiogram?

Seeing Your Heart in Motion

An echocardiogram (“echo”) is an ultrasound scan of the heart. Using high-frequency sound waves, it produces detailed real-time images of the heart’s chambers, walls, and valves — allowing clinicians to assess both the structure of the heart and how well it is functioning as a pump.

During the scan, a small handheld probe (transducer) is gently moved across the skin of your chest. It emits ultrasound waves that reflect off the heart’s structures, creating moving images on a screen. The procedure uses no radiation whatsoever and is entirely painless.

Our echocardiograms include a standard 2D echo, M-mode measurements, and colour Doppler assessment of blood flow across the heart valves. The scan is carried out by an experienced cardiac physiologist, who reports the study, and the findings are then reviewed by our cardiology doctor.

Your echocardiogram is carried out at one of our partner hospitals, using hospital-grade imaging equipment. Depending on what’s most appropriate and convenient for you, this will be either locally here in Surrey or at a partner site in central London. Booking starts with a short telephone consultation with one of our GPs, who will check that an echo is right for you and arrange your referral; we then handle the rest, confirming your appointment location, date and time with you directly.

When Is It Used?

Reasons You May Need an Echocardiogram

Your GP, specialist, or our team may recommend an echocardiogram for any of the following reasons.

Heart murmur

To assess whether a murmur is innocent or indicates a valve abnormality

Breathlessness

To assess heart function as a potential cause of unexplained shortness of breath

Chest Pain

To evaluate cardiac structure and rule out pericardial or myocardial disease

Suspected valve disease

Detailed assessment of mitral, aortic, tricuspid and pulmonary valves

Cardiomyopathy

Assessment of abnormal thickening or weakening of the heart muscle

Post Heart Attack

Evaluation of any damage to the heart muscle and its impact on pumping function

Your Appointment

What to Expect

Telephone consultation & referral

Start with a 10-minute telephone consultation with one of our GPs (£20). They’ll discuss your symptoms and history and, if an echocardiogram is appropriate, refer you for the scan. The £20 fee is deducted from the cost of your echocardiogram.

Your appointment is arranged.

We book your scan at the most appropriate partner hospital — locally in Surrey or in central London — and confirm the details with you. No preparation is needed: you can eat, drink and take your usual medications as normal. On arrival you’ll be asked to undress to the waist (a gown is provided) and ECG dots may be placed on your skin for simultaneous rhythm recording.

The Scan

You lie on your left side on the examination couch. Gel is applied to your chest and the sonographer gently moves the probe to obtain views of your heart from multiple angles. Blood flow through each heart valve is assessed using colour Doppler imaging, allowing detection of any leakage (regurgitation) or narrowing (stenosis) of the valves.

Your Report

A verbal summary may be provided at the time of the scan. Your scan is then formally reported by a cardiac physiologist and reviewed by our cardiology doctor. A written report is sent to you, typically within a few working days.

How do I book an echocardiogram?

Booking starts with a short 10-minute telephone consultation with one of our GPs (£20). This lets us check that an echo is the right test for you and arrange your referral. If you go ahead, the £20 is deducted from the cost of your scan. We then book your echo at the most appropriate partner hospital and confirm all the details with you.

Is an echocardiogram the same as a cardiac ultrasound?

Yes — an echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan specifically of the heart. The terms are interchangeable. It should not be confused with a standard cardiac ECG, which records the heart's electrical activity rather than producing images of its structure.

Do I need to fast before my echo?

No fasting is required for a standard transthoracic echocardiogram. You can eat, drink and take your regular medications as normal before your appointment. If a transoesophageal echo (TOE) is required — which is a different, more specialised procedure — fasting would be necessary, but our team would advise you of this when booking.

What will the echocardiogram measure?

Your echo will assess: the size and thickness of all four heart chambers; left ventricular ejection fraction (a measure of pumping efficiency); the structure and function of all four heart valves; the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart); the aortic root; and blood flow patterns using colour Doppler technology.

Is the procedure uncomfortable?

A standard echocardiogram is painless. The probe is pressed gently but firmly against the chest wall, which may feel slightly uncomfortable in certain positions, but no needles, injections, or invasive procedures are involved. The gel applied to the skin is cold initially but otherwise unobtrusive.

What is the difference between a standard echo and a stress echo?

A standard resting echocardiogram assesses the heart at rest. A stress echocardiogram additionally assesses the heart under physical exertion (exercise bike or treadmill) or pharmacological stress, specifically to detect ischaemia (reduced blood supply during increased demand). If a stress echo is clinically indicated, please mention this when booking and we will advise on availability.

Where will my echocardiogram take place?

Your echo is carried out at one of our partner hospitals rather than at the Dorking clinic, giving you the benefit of hospital-grade imaging and experienced cardiac physiologists. Depending on what’s most appropriate and convenient for you, this will be either locally in Surrey or at a partner site in central London. We arrange the appointment and confirm the location, date and time with you.