A quick, painless heart rhythm test in clinic, with your report sent straight to the clinician responsible for your care.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) records the electrical activity of your heart and shows your heart rate and rhythm. It is often the first test used to look into palpitations, chest tightness, breathlessness or dizziness, and it can also give reassurance if you would like your heart checked.
Your ECG is carried out in clinic at Enigma Healthcare in Tarporley, without a hospital waiting list. When you book, we ask who is responsible for your cardiology care and send your report directly to them for review: your cardiologist, your NHS GP, or Dr Timothy Gray, our Consultant Cardiologist, if you are continuing your care with him.
We see patients from across Cheshire, including Chester, Nantwich, Crewe, Northwich, Winsford and Whitchurch.
The test itself takes only a few minutes, and appointments are often available within 7 days.
An ECG at Enigma Healthcare is is £105
Book an private ECG Call us on 01829 863 331An ECG can help investigate symptoms, check on a known concern or give you peace of mind. Common reasons include:
A racing, fluttering, pounding or skipped heartbeat is often harmless, but an ECG can check whether an irregular rhythm is behind it.
Chest symptoms have many causes, and an ECG is a quick first step in looking at whether the heart is involved. Sudden or severe chest pain is an emergency, so call 999.
Breathlessness that is new or getting worse can have heart-related causes. An ECG can show signs of rhythm problems or strain on the heart.
Light-headedness, blackouts or feeling faint can sometimes be linked to your heart rhythm, which an ECG can help assess.
These raise your risk of heart disease over time. An ECG can show whether there are any signs your heart has been affected, and gives you a baseline to compare against in future.
If a smartwatch, home device or another appointment has flagged an irregular rhythm, an ECG in clinic gives a more detailed check.
You do not need symptoms to have an ECG. Some patients simply want reassurance, or a record of their heart’s usual rhythm.
An ECG (electrocardiogram) is a quick, painless test that records the electrical signals your heart produces each time it beats. The trace shows your heart rate, whether your rhythm is regular, and how electrical signals travel through the heart.
An ECG can help identify:
An ECG records only a short period of your heart’s activity. A normal ECG is reassuring, but it does not rule out every heart condition, particularly rhythm problems that come and go. If needed, the clinician reviewing your results may suggest a longer recording with the Zio 14-day heart monitor, or an echocardiogram to look at the structure of your heart.
Book an private ECG Call us on 01829 863 331From booking to results, here’s what to expect.
We ask who is responsible for your cardiology care: your cardiologist, your NHS GP, or Dr Gray if you are continuing your care with him. We take their details so your report can be sent directly to them.
You’ll be welcomed at our Tarporley clinic and asked about your symptoms, medication and medical history. Small, sticky electrodes are then placed on your chest, arms and legs. Some chest hair may need to be shaved so the electrodes stick well.
You’ll lie still and relaxed while the ECG machine records your heart’s electrical activity. The recording itself takes only a short time.
The electrodes come off straight away, and you can carry on with your day. There is no recovery time.
Your report is sent directly to the cardiologist or NHS GP you named at booking, or reviewed by Dr Gray if you are continuing your care with him.
The clinician reviewing your report will advise on next steps. If you are continuing your care with Dr Gray, you will have a follow-up consultation with him to discuss your results.
Each test shows something different. A clinician can advise on which test, or which combination of tests, suits your symptoms.
This page
A few minutes
Your heart rate and rhythm at the time of the test
Often used for: Palpitations, chest tightness, dizziness, a first heart check
Around 30 minutes
The structure of your heart, how well it pumps and how its valves work
Often used for: Breathlessness, heart murmurs, an abnormal ECG, valve and heart muscle problems
Worn at home for up to 14 days
Your heart rhythm, recorded continuously
Often used for: Rhythm problems that come and go
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A private ECG is for non-emergency assessment. If you have sudden or severe chest pain, especially with breathlessness, sweating, or pain spreading to your arm, neck or jaw, this could be a heart attack.
Call 999 immediately, or go to your nearest A&E, if you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack or stroke.
For urgent (non-emergency) advice in the UK, contact NHS 111.
Our current ECG price £105 (price accurate up to October 2026). If you are continuing your care with Dr Gray, you will also have a follow-up consultation with him to discuss your results. We accept private health insurance through all major insurers, including AXA, Bupa and Vitality. Cover for diagnostic tests depends on your policy, so please check with your insurer before booking.
No referral letter is needed to book. When you book, we ask who is responsible for your cardiology care, which can be your own cardiologist, your NHS GP, or Dr Gray if you are continuing your care with him. We take their details so your report can be sent directly to them. If you have previous ECGs, bringing them along helps with comparison.
Your report is sent directly to the clinician you name when you book, either your cardiologist or your NHS GP, for them to review. If you are continuing your care with Dr Timothy Gray, he reviews your ECG and you will have a follow-up consultation with him to discuss the results.
The recording itself takes a few minutes. Allow around 15 minutes for your appointment, which includes getting settled and having the electrodes attached and removed.
An ECG is painless. Small sticky electrodes are placed on your chest, arms and legs, and removing them can feel like taking off a plaster. You do not need to fast or stop your medication. Wear a top that is easy to remove, and avoid putting body lotion or oil on your chest beforehand, as it can stop the electrodes sticking.
An ECG measures the electrical activity of your heart, showing its rate and rhythm. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan that shows the structure of your heart, how well it pumps and how its valves work. They show different things, and a clinician may recommend one, both or a longer recording depending on your symptoms.
Yes. If atrial fibrillation is happening while the ECG is recorded, it usually shows up on the trace. If it comes and goes, it may not appear on a short recording, and a longer test such as the Zio 14-day heart monitor gives a better chance of capturing it.
The clinician reviewing your report will advise on next steps. If you are continuing your care with Dr Gray, he will explain what the ECG shows at your follow-up consultation and whether further tests such as an echocardiogram, blood tests or a Zio monitor would help. If treatment is needed, he can discuss your options, including continuing your care at a nearby hospital if a procedure is required. If your report went to your cardiologist or NHS GP, they will advise on next steps.
An ECG measures the electrical activity of your heart, showing its rate and rhythm. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan that shows the structure of your heart, how well it pumps and how its valves work. They show different things, and a clinician may recommend one, both or a longer rhythm recording depending on your symptoms
The clinician reviewing your report will advise on next steps. If you are continuing your care with Dr Gray, he will explain what the scan shows at your follow-up consultation and whether further tests or treatment are needed. If treatment is needed, he can discuss your options, including continuing your care at a nearby hospital if a procedure is required. If your report went to your cardiologist or NHS GP, they will advise on next steps.
Not ready to book yet, or want to know which test is right for you?
Send us your question and a member of our cardiology team will get back to you personally.
Prefer to talk straight away? Call us on 01829 863 331.
