A painless heart ultrasound scan in clinic, with your report sent straight to the clinician responsible for your care.
An echocardiogram, often called an echo, is an ultrasound scan of your heart. It shows the size and shape of the heart’s chambers, how well the heart muscle is pumping and how the valves are working. It is commonly used to look into breathlessness, a heart murmur, swollen ankles or an abnormal ECG.
Your echocardiogram 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 scan is painless, uses no radiation and takes around 30 minutes. Appointments are often available within 7 days.
An echocardiogram at Enigma Healthcare is is £380
Book a private echocardiogram Call us on 01829 863 331
An echo gives a detailed picture of how your heart is built and how it is working. Common reasons include:
Breathlessness that is new, getting worse, or happening with less activity than usual can have heart-related causes. An echo can show whether the heart’s pumping or valves are involved.
A murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard through a stethoscope. Many are harmless, but an echo can show whether a valve problem is behind it.
These have many possible causes, including the heart not pumping as efficiently as it should. An echo can check how well your heart is working.
If an ECG or blood test has raised a question about your heart, an echo shows the structure and pumping action behind it.
An echo can check whether the structure or pumping of your heart is contributing to your symptoms.
Long-standing high blood pressure can affect the heart muscle, and a family history of heart muscle problems is a reason to be assessed. An echo can look for early changes.
If you have a known valve or heart muscle condition, regular echocardiograms can track any changes over time.
An echocardiogram (echo) is an ultrasound scan of the heart. A small probe sends out high-frequency sound waves that bounce off the heart, producing moving images on a screen, so your heart can be seen working in real time.
An echo can show:
An echo does not show blockages in the heart’s arteries directly. If a problem with the arteries is suspected, other tests may be recommended, such as a stress test, CT scan or angiogram.
Book a private echocardiogram 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 asked a few questions about your symptoms, medication and medical history. You’ll then be asked to remove clothing from the waist up and lie on your left side. We’ll make sure you are comfortable and covered where possible.
One of our nurses or trained health advisors moves a small probe with a little gel across your chest. You may be asked to breathe in, breathe out or hold your breath for a few seconds. You may hear whooshing sounds as blood flow is recorded.
The gel is wiped off, and you can get dressed and carry on with your day. There is no recovery time.
Your scan is recorded and 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.
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
This page
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 echocardiogram 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 echocardiogram price is £380 (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 scans or ECGs, bringing them along helps with comparison.
Your scan is carried out in clinic by a member of our team, such as one of our nurses or trained health advisors. Your report is then sent directly to the cardiologist or NHS GP you named when you booked, for them to review. If you are continuing your care with Dr Gray, he reviews it and you will have a follow-up consultation with him to discuss your results.
The scan takes around 30 minutes. Allow a little longer for your appointment, which includes getting settled and a few questions beforehand.
An echocardiogram is painless. You may feel some pressure from the probe, and the gel can feel cool. There are no injections and no radiation. You do not need to fast or stop your medication, and you can eat and drink as normal. Wear a top that is easy to remove.
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
Not directly. An echo shows the heart’s structure and how well it is pumping, but it does not show the heart’s arteries themselves. If blocked arteries are suspected, a clinician may recommend other tests, such as a stress test, CT scan or angiogram.
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.
