Private ECG (Electrocardiogram), Cardiff & South Wales
Fast, non-invasive heart-rhythm check — including a full report by a consultant cardiologist.
cardiologist report
What's included for £120
- ✓Comprehensive resting ECG at our Penarth clinic
- ✓Full report by a consultant cardiologist
- ✓Digital copy of your ECG trace and report
- ✓Onward referral if needed
- ✓No GP referral required to book
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Why choose Acorn
Consultant cardiologist report
Every ECG is reviewed and reported by a consultant cardiologist — a proper expert interpretation, not just a printout.
Seen within 48 hours
No long NHS wait — most appointments are booked within 48 hours of enquiry.
Fast and painless
Small sensors, about 10 minutes, with no needles and no radiation — most people find it very easy.
HIW regulated
Inspected and approved by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, and self-refer with no GP letter needed to book.
What an ECG checks
An ECG records the electrical activity of your heart from small sensors on the skin, and every trace is interpreted and reported by a consultant cardiologist. It's the first-line test for many heart problems — quick, painless and radiation-free.
Heart rhythm
Whether your heart is beating regularly or irregularly, including atrial fibrillation.
Heart rate
Whether your heart is beating too fast, too slow or within a normal range.
Electrical conduction
How the electrical signal travels through the heart — picking up heart block and delays.
Previous heart attack
Electrical patterns that can suggest a past (or occasionally current) heart attack.
Heart strain
Signs the heart muscle may be thickened or under strain, e.g. with high blood pressure.
Oxygen supply
Changes that can point to reduced blood or oxygen supply to the heart muscle.
If you have any of these, an ECG can help
What an ECG can identify
A resting ECG is the standard first test for heart rhythm and electrical problems, and often the quickest way to explain unexplained palpitations, chest pain or breathlessness.
Atrial fibrillation & arrhythmias
The most common use — detecting an irregular or abnormal heart rhythm, including atrial fibrillation (AF), which is important to pick up and treat.
Heart block & conduction problems
Delays or blocks in the heart's electrical wiring that can cause a slow heart rate, dizziness or blackouts.
Signs of a heart attack
Electrical patterns suggesting a previous heart attack, or occasionally changes needing urgent attention.
Fast or slow heart rate
Tachycardia (too fast) or bradycardia (too slow), and the electrical pattern behind it.
Heart strain & enlargement
Signs the heart muscle may be thickened or under strain, often linked to high blood pressure.
Some inherited & electrical conditions
Patterns that can point to conditions such as a long QT interval, which may guide further testing.
A resting ECG is a snapshot of your heart at that moment. If your symptoms come and go, the ECG may be normal between episodes — a longer heart monitor or further tests may then be recommended, which your consultant cardiologist can advise on.
Preparation — very little needed
How to prepare for your ECG
Why so simple? A resting ECG just needs good contact between small sensors and clean, dry skin. Easy access to your chest and lotion-free skin help us capture a clear trace first time.
Have a pacemaker or another implanted cardiac device? Please let us know when you book.
Your appointment, step by step
Arrive
Free parking at Penarth. 5-minute walk from Penarth railway station.
Meet your clinician
Brief chat about your symptoms and history. Ask any questions.
The ECG (about 10 mins)
Small sticky sensors are placed on your chest, arms and legs. You lie still for a few seconds while the trace records — completely painless, with no electricity passed into you.
Consultant cardiologist report
Your ECG is reviewed and reported by a consultant cardiologist. You receive a clear written report, with any recommended next steps.
Booked an ECG after weeks of palpitations rather than wait on the NHS. Seen within a few days, quick and painless, and I had a clear consultant cardiologist's report explaining exactly what it showed. Reassuring and professional from start to finish.
Transparent, all-inclusive
One price covers everything: the ECG scan and a full report by a consultant cardiologist. If you'd like to talk your results through with a doctor face to face, an optional GP consultation can be added.
ECG + consultant cardiologist report
- ✓Comprehensive resting ECG at our Penarth clinic
- ✓Full report by a consultant cardiologist
- ✓Digital trace and report, plus onward referral if needed
GP consultation to discuss
- ✓30-minute GP consultation
- ✓Talk your results through face to face
- ✓Advice on next steps and referral if needed
Follow-up GP consultation
- ✓20-minute GP consultation
- ✓Review and follow-up after your report
- ✓Ideal for a check-in once you've had your results
Your £120 ECG already includes a consultant cardiologist's written report. A GP consultation is entirely optional — helpful if you'd like to sit with a doctor, go through your report and talk about next steps.
The £120 price includes the ECG recording, a consultant cardiologist report and any onward referral if required. GP consultations are optional and priced separately as shown.
Prefer to discuss it in person?
Your £120 ECG already includes a consultant cardiologist's report. If you'd also like to talk it through, our private GP consultations put your report in the context of your symptoms and arrange any further tests you need.
Our Penarth clinic
Patients travel to us from Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend, Barry, Caerphilly, Swansea and the Vale.
Common questions about a private ECG
How much does a private ECG cost in Cardiff?
An ECG at Acorn Private Clinic is £120, which includes the ECG scan and a full report by a consultant cardiologist, plus a digital copy of your trace and report. An optional GP consultation to discuss your results face to face is £115 (30 minutes) or £90 (20-minute follow-up).
Do I need a GP referral to book an ECG?
No — you can book online without a referral. Your ECG is interpreted and reported by a consultant cardiologist, so you get an expert report without needing to arrange anything else. An optional GP consultation is available if you'd like to talk your results through.
Does the £120 include someone explaining my results?
Yes. The £120 includes a full written report by a consultant cardiologist explaining what your ECG shows. If you'd also like to talk it through with a doctor face to face, an optional GP consultation can be added (£115 for 30 minutes, or £90 for a 20-minute follow-up).
How quickly can I get an ECG?
Most appointments are available within 48-72 hours, and same-week slots are usually available. Call us on 029 2199 9300 if you need to be seen quickly.
What does an ECG show?
An ECG records your heart's electrical activity and shows your heart rhythm and rate, electrical conduction, and signs of strain or a previous heart attack. It's the first-line test for palpitations, unexplained chest pain, breathlessness, dizziness and suspected atrial fibrillation.
Is an ECG painful?
Not at all. Small sticky sensors are placed on your chest, arms and legs and simply listen to your heart's electrical signals. Nothing is passed into your body and there's no pain — most people find it very quick and easy.
How long does it take?
The recording itself takes about 10 minutes. Allow around 15-20 minutes for the full appointment including a brief chat about your symptoms.
Do I need to prepare or fast?
No fasting or special preparation is needed. Just wear a loose top that's easy to remove, avoid heavy body lotion on your chest that day, and take your normal medications. Let us know when booking if you have a pacemaker or implanted cardiac device.
Can an ECG detect all heart problems?
No single test can. A resting ECG is a snapshot of your heart at that moment, so intermittent problems (like occasional palpitations) can be missed if your heart is behaving normally during the recording. In that case a longer ambulatory heart monitor or further tests may be recommended, and your consultant cardiologist can advise you.
What's the difference between an ECG and an echocardiogram?
An ECG looks at the heart's electrical activity — its rhythm and conduction. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan that looks at the heart's structure and pumping. They answer different questions and are often used together. If a scan of the heart is more appropriate, your report will advise.
Will the report be accepted by my NHS GP?
Yes — your ECG is reported by a consultant cardiologist and accepted by NHS GPs, consultants and onward referral pathways. With your permission we can send the report directly to your GP.
Can I claim a private ECG on health insurance?
Most major UK insurers (Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, Healix, Allianz) cover a diagnostic ECG when there's a clinical indication. Coverage varies by policy — check with your insurer for an authorisation code and bring it to your appointment.
Where can I get a private ECG near Cardiff?
Acorn Private Clinic offers ECGs at our Penarth clinic (CF64 2AD) — 10 minutes from Cardiff city centre with free parking. Patients travel to us from across South Wales including Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend, Barry, Caerphilly, Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Get the answers you need.
Self-refer for a private ECG — fast, painless and reported by a consultant cardiologist. £120 all-inclusive, with the scan and your cardiologist report included.