Private consultation with an electrophysiologist.

[Goldenheart]

Does anyone have any info on going for a private consultation with an electrophysiologist, to show him episodes of irregular heart beat,caught on alive cor. How much,and what assosiated tests and costs usually incur. Im in yorkshire area. Awaiting nhs appt, but worried about the very lengthy wait, as a fibs been confirmed, plus probably a flutter too.

[Torvi]

Good morning, not sure if this will help you . I was diagnosed with AF some months ago , I had a 7day monitor prior to diagnosis, I was put on blood thinner medication for life .

I went for a second opinion to Professor Mark O Neill in Harley St, I had the results sent to him, he specialises in AF, he was absolutely brilliant, he guaranteed me that I don’t have AF and I don’t need blood thinners . I wish you well.

[Desanthony in reply to Torvi]

Find out if there is an EP in private practice near you and call his secretary to find out when it is likely that you will get an appointment and what information they will need from your GP and how much it will cost and you will need to be referred from your GP to him - so you will need to make an appointment to see your GP and get a letter of referral sent - sometimes you will be able to just ask the GP receptionist to do this and also ask them to include the information needed. I made an appointment earlier this year to see an EP at a local private hospital but as he is the only EP in the whole of this area for the NHS and private practice it was a longer wait than usual - but shorter than the NHS wait so having telephoned his secretary first I made the appointment there and then and got the GP to send all relevant paperwork afterwards.

It all depends on what tests they want done Echo Cardiograms cost about £400 and there are other tests they may consider including an ultrasound I had done - it wasn't just an ultrasound but I can't remember the name but it looked at the lungs as well because I was having fluid retention and that cost another £600 - so a good day that one! The consultation also costs about £200. In a lot of private hospitals you can pay monthly for this and do not have to pay up front - though I think the actual consultation must be paid for but you are billed afterwards - usually. I was born and bred in Yorkshire so the payment was a bit of a shock! Though there have been times when I have paid similar to keep a car on the road and my health is far more important than a car. I got a private appointment with the electrophysiologist I would have seen through the NHS and was part of the local cardiologist's team so I was then put on the NHS waiting list for an ablation with this EP An ablation would cost £9,000 and a cardioversion would cost £1400 privately.

Hope this helps.

[Dicky-ticker]

If Yorkshire NHS is the same as Lancashire, it will cost £200 to see consultant. If a ECG is taken you will pay £80 to use machine and also pay £50 for consultant to request s nurse to use it. Every test will be a fee. I waited to see electrophysiologist on NHS, had echocardiogram, ECG 24 hour holter, then paid private to gain test results quicker privately. Subsequently was then sent for more assessments using NHS. The waiting times are grim sadly, I'm 4 months in and still no proper plan, to allow me to be 'normal' and get back to living my life and back at work.

[MydogBrandy]

I went private to Sheffield and had my ablation done private in Leeds. My consultant was lovely, easy to speak to and very calming as I was petrified but had had so many episodes that I had to do something.

[MydogBrandy]

Sorry forgot to say the consultant was Dr. Sahu.