You don't need a referral, a hospital appointment or a reason to worry before booking cardiac screening. Many people in Preston and across Lancashire simply want reassurance, a baseline check before a new exercise programme, or answers to nagging symptoms their GP hasn't had time to explore. Here's a plain guide to what the main tests involve and when each one earns its place.
ECG — the starting point
An electrocardiogram records the electrical activity of your heart over about ten minutes. It can pick up rhythm disturbances (such as atrial fibrillation), evidence of a previous heart attack, or conduction problems you may never have felt. It's painless, quick and costs £100 at Northwest Health.
An ECG is a sensible first step if you've noticed palpitations, occasional dizziness or mild chest discomfort. It won't show the structure of the heart, but it tells your reviewing clinician a great deal about how it's beating.
Important: if you have sudden severe chest pain, call 999. Cardiac screening is for investigation and reassurance — it is not an emergency service.
Holter monitoring — when symptoms come and go
A standard ECG lasts minutes. If your symptoms are intermittent, a Holter monitor records your heart rhythm continuously for 24 hours (£225) or 48 hours (£295), worn during your normal daily routine. It's the most reliable way to capture an arrhythmia that only appears occasionally.
Echocardiogram — looking at structure and function
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. It shows the size of the chambers, how well the valves open and close, and how strongly the muscle is pumping. No radiation is involved, and the test takes around 45 minutes.
An echo is often recommended when:
- An ECG or Holter has flagged something worth investigating further
- There is a family history of heart failure or valve disease
- You want a thorough baseline before intense exercise training
- A GP has heard an unusual murmur
Our echocardiograms cost £295 and are reported by a consultant cardiologist.
Cardiac MRI — the detailed view
Cardiac MRI (£550) goes further still, providing detailed images of the heart muscle itself. It's particularly useful for assessing cardiomyopathy, scarring from a previous heart event, or congenital differences in heart structure. It's also part of our Cardiac MOT (£450), which combines a clinic review, ECG and echocardiogram into a single appointment.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can book any of these tests directly. A GP at Northwest Health completes a pre-test review for every patient, so you don't need a referral letter from your own doctor first. We are CQC-registered, and all results are reported by a consultant cardiologist before being shared securely with you.
Which test is right for me?
- Occasional palpitations, no other symptoms — ECG is a sensible starting point
- Symptoms that come and go — 24- or 48-hour Holter
- Family history or murmur — echocardiogram
- Comprehensive annual check — Cardiac MOT
- Known or suspected structural problem — cardiac MRI
This is general guidance, not a substitute for a personal clinical assessment. If you're unsure, booking a GP appointment (from £50) to discuss your situation first is always a reasonable approach.
See our cardiac screening options →
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