Private Cardiac MRI scan

[Casualvisitor]

Hi,

will get straight to the point.

14 months after mt STEMI i want to know how things are going in my heart.

The NHS won't probaly do this unless I'm symptomatic so I'm thinking of getting it done privately.

anyone else taken this route?

thank you

[Taviterry]

I had a couple of private ECGs after my TAVI, which cost me £550 each, which I've since learned is significantly higher than is usually charged; an NHS nurse reckoned an ECG cost the NHS £100 or so, plus follow up. Googling leads to a wide range of "private" prices for MRIs, depending on which and how many body parts will be scanned, but interpretation would be extra and the provider will probably want to provide an initial consultation.

You would need to confirm that the results will/can be passed on to the NHS, including your GP.

My GP has proved very willing to refer me to a private haematologist, sending him a comprehensive summary of my medical records. After my last consultation, he sent my GP his conclusions, copied to my NHS cardiologist, NHS haematologist (whom he knew) and me.

[Casualvisitor in reply to Taviterry]

Yup seen the range of prices, hopefully my bupa cover will take a hit on some of the costs.

[RTCLP1]

A local hospital near us does a 'healthy heart' check for £500/£550. To give you an idea, Google KIMS Hospital. They are Kent based but others do similar. It doesn't include an MRI, however. I'm now going private, via my employers PHI, for follow ups after my STEMI 8 weeks ago. I need annual echos to check my newly diagnosed BAV and I'm going to pay privately myself as my employers PHI doesn't cover it and I don't feel I can rely on the NHS so much these days - no criticism of the staff, etc, it's just hard to get some things done in a reasonable time these days.

[Taviterry in reply to RTCLP1]

I saw an NHS cardiologist on November 21 and he thought a non-urgent check-up might be a good idea. I was offered an appointment for December 23 to have a Holter heart monitor fitted and I have an MRI on Tuesday. Two years ago I was starting a sequence of tests and scans after being diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and was then naturally concerned about the results. This time around, I'm not all bothered, but then as Thomas Gray put it, “Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise”.

[Lowerfield_no_more]

I suggest you first approach BUPA to establish what they will cover under the terms of your policy, whether you are covered through yourself or through your employer (if that applies). They will assuredly need some evidence that you require a cardiac MRI before they offer you cover whether whole or in part. In the meantime you could approach local private hospitals for an estimate of the cost of the scan and the report that follows, although if you decide to self fund the rate might be different . And you might require a letter of introduction to the hospital from a health professional who has requested this investigation, or been involved, perhaps your GP, stating why one is necessary.

[Hatchjd]

I (NSTEMI 2019, retired RN ) called and made a cardiology appointment at my local private hospital. ( part of the Circle Group ). As I was self pay I didn’t require a referal. I had a consultation £225 and a follow up cardiac echo and exercise stress test both carried out by the cardiologist. He discussed the results immediately following the tests. The combined cost for these was £1000. My GP does annual blood tests but I have used Medichecks a private online lab on several occasions. For £150 you can have a full general heath blood check with a professional interpretation. (The blood can be drawn at selected Superdrug locations ) I had this done before I went to the private cardiologist. This allowed him to evaluate the results at the initial consultation and was less expensive than having it done at the private hospital. The cardiologist sent the results with any recommendations to my GP.

We have to be our own best advocates for our personal healthcare. I think the cost was very reasonable and less than I would spend on a week’s holiday abroad. Peace of mind … priceless.

[Ewloe]

my husband has just seen a private cardiologist. He isn’t symptomatic of any problem but his brother had an emergency bypass just before Christmas and because of this and other family history they’ve advised siblings get checked out. He’s done some tests and they’re fine. The cardiologist has now referred him to himself on the nhs. It’s not and won’t jump any queue but as the cardiologist said a cardiac mri will cost thousands. You will need to check a cardiologist will advise an mri and bupa will pay.

[AmandaLouise77]

Would an echocardiogram provide enough reassurance. Private cost around £309

[Casualvisitor in reply to AmandaLouise77]

Tbh No, even the cardiologist said its an ok test but not the best.

[LordLytton in reply to Casualvisitor]

my echocardiogram cost £250 for initial consult, £450 for very speedy echo and 140 for follow-up discussion. Reassuring results but not cheap.

[Scho1]

Hi yes, I’ve paid for cardiac MRI as NHS wouldn’t do them and I knew I was being diagnosed incorrectly. It was found I had chronic pericarditis with thickening of the pericardium and two effusions. Last week I paid for a CT angiogram scan as things suddenly started taking a change in symptoms and it was the best money I’ve ever spent. My local hospital cardiologist had prescribed a cocktail of meds for coronary artery disease and heart failure without even listening to my heart, even though he knew I had a heart murmur etc or running any tests. The scan proved I have neither and a calcium score of nil. What I do have however is a 11 x 14 mm hole in my heart so have now been referred to the adult congenital heart defect team at another renowned hospital.

It was certainly worth paying for.

[richard_jw]

You had a STEMI. Before you ask for any diagnostic test, you probably ought to think if you are symptomatic in any way.

For instance do you have any chest pain do you get out of breath etc.

Different symptoms may well need a different sort of test.

A STEMI implies that a coronary artery was blocked, and blood supply is stopped probably because of a clot.

The gold standard for looking at the main coronary arteries is an angiogram. You probably underwent this when you were treated for the STEMI. I had it done a year after I had the STEMI. It showed that the coronary arteries were OK and reassured me. I suspected that the symptoms I had were psychological as much as anything else.

I basically pestered the cardiologist enough so that the angiogram was the line of least resistance and it was done on the NHS.

I also had a Stress Echocardiogram which put me on a treadmill and tried unsuccessfully to induce ischemia, while recording. It did ascertain that I had a small amount of mitral valve regurgitation, though but the EF was 59% which is good.

I have been told that an Echo is a good and relatively cheap test which can act as an initial overall diagnosis of whether your heart is functioning well.

[Casualvisitor in reply to richard_jw]

I'm not symptomatic at all.

I suppose that's my mental issue as a never had any symptoms prior to my heart attack so a bit nervous even after all this time that something troublesome could be brewing inside and I'm living in ignorance about it.

[Qualipop]

I've been trying to see cardio for the same for 2 years. I am symptomatic and know I have two more blockages in the LAD. Would dearly love to know if they've got worse.

[richard_jw]

I had no symptoms either prior to the MI. Mine was caused by coronary arteries which were irregular in cross section, and allowed clots to form in them.

Thjey could not keep them open with stents so had do do so via a balloon and anti coagulants. So it's not surprising I was concerned after the third attempt to open them via angioplasty.

I make sure that one way or another, I have an echocardiogram every year.

So far so good (it's 5 years not and no adverse symptoms

[wischo]

A cardiac MRI scan plus full reading in a hi tech hospital in Dublin cost 750 euro which equates to £625. I read people saying that they are thousands of pounds which is total rubbish as can not see why the UK is any more expensive than Ireland. I have private health insurance which covers most of the cost so I have no qualms in having them done which is always done within a week. If they do cost that much in the UK! I would get a cheap Ryanair flight to Dublin having booked one at the Mater private hospital or the Hermitage private hospital, stay the night before and go home straight after the scan. Flights are less than £100 return and a night in a hotel close by should be quite reasonable midweek. The hospital will send on the results to whatever hospital you want them to. It could also be done on the same day fly here early morning and back in the evening an hour at most each way. The prices are visible on the hospitals websites cardiac dept.

[Casualvisitor in reply to wischo]

sounds like a plan ,plus i will grab a pint of that famously expensive guiness

[wischo in reply to Casualvisitor]

Only expensive if you hit the night clubs🙄 otherwise same price as home.

[Casualvisitor]

Cheers all for the input, the way I see it is if it doesn't cost an arm and leg then I would prefer to keep an eye on my heart health, I'd rather not have to visit the hospital with another heart attack.

[Qualipop]

Anyone know another way except MRI or angiogram to check blockages? I know I have two in the LAD but I can't have an MRI and really don't want another angiogram. Told an echo scan only checks heart function not blockages.

[wischo in reply to Qualipop]

Same here though I force myself to have them and the reassurance when they are clear is priceless. Not really such a big deal when you think about it.

[Qualipop in reply to wischo]

Ooh I should have checked my typing- have edited now. An MRI is not an option for me.

[wischo in reply to Qualipop]

The angiogram is the one I trust more, a bit invasive but very safe.

[Qualipop in reply to wischo]

Yes I've had two but I feel sure there's something else other than an MRI

[wischo in reply to Qualipop]

Nothing as reliable though, a cardiac stress test can show up problems but not specific and a CT angiogram is good but if there is any doubt you would need an angiogram anyway. Why not have the angiogram! its really very safe.

[Qualipop]

Severe Spinal problems, I'd need a general anaesthetic to lie flat now. Been trying to remember the alternative, thanks it was CT angiogram. I might manage a few minutes.