Why choose us

Consultants at West Herts Cardiology are highly qualified and experienced, they provide a range of subspecialist expertise. There's the reassurance of knowing that all our consultants are NHS trained with a level of expertise that puts them at the forefront of their respective fields.

Our Facilities

We have two cardiac catheter laboratories, advanced imaging facilities (including CT and MRI) so we can offer procedures and diagnostics often not available at smaller private hospitals or indeed at many district general hospitals. There is also immediate access to intensive care and our emergency department; specialist services which are not usually available with other private healthcare options.

Here are some of the common services available from West Herts cardiology.

Procedures

  • Coronary assessment and treatment
  • Diagnostic angiography – invasive tests to assess coronary artery (arteries of the heart) anatomy
  • Angioplasty - uses a balloon to stretch open a narrowed or blocked coronary artery
  • Fractional flow reserve (FFR) tests coronary narrowings to assess their severity and potential to impede the delivery of oxygen to the heart muscle
  • Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) – produce ultrasound images of the coronaries and can show the entire artery wall to help assess the severity of any narrowing.
  • Stenting - A stent is a tiny metal tube that can be inserted into a blocked artery to restore and maintain the flow of blood to the heart
  • Heart rhythm assessment and treatment (Electrophysiology/EP)
  • EP studies – a low risk, invasive test to assess the heart’s electrical conduction system and propensity to heart rhythm disturbance (arrhythmia).
  • Catheter ablation – a low risk, invasive treatment for arrhythmias such as SVT and atrial flutter.
  • Cardiac devices
  • Device Implantation – day case procedures usually performed under local anaesthetic, including:
  • Pacemakers – devices that regulate the heart rate preventing symptoms from low pulse.
  • Loop recorders – small injectable devices implanted under the skin of the chest wall to monitor for and diagnose arrhythmia as cause of symptoms such as loss of consciousness or palpitations.
  • Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) – devices that monitor for and treat potentially life-threatening arrhythmias.
  • Cardiac re-synchronisation – devices that resynchronise the electrical and mechanical pumping of the heart to improve heart function, breathing and prognosis
  • Cardiac device follow-up – all patients with implantable devices have long term follow-up to ensure that their device is working well and that no underlying heart rhythm issues occur. The majority now are being monitored remotely by home monitoring devices that can transmit the hospital data immediately by telephone line if any issues occur.
  • Imaging
  • Echocardiography (Echo) – ultrasound scan to assess the structure and function of the heart muscle and heart valves.
  • Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) – an invasive ultrasound test performed under sedation by passing a small probe into the food pipe from the mouth to assess the heart in more detail.
  • Stress echocardiography – a non-invasive echo test that can either be done by exercising on a bike or through an intravenous infusion of medication to raise the heart rate. This specifically looks for evidence of poor blood supply to areas of the heart.
  • Computed Tomography (CT) coronary angiogram – a non-invasive test to assess the presence of coronary artery disease in the heart.
  • Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (cMRI) – an advanced non-invasive test to assess structure and function of the heart but in greater detail to the point of being able to see within the heart muscle.

All procedures are carried out in the Cardiac Cath Lab which is on level 2 of the AAU building - follow signs for the Accident and Emergency Department.

Your private procedure will be carried out using West Herts’ state-of-the-art facilities. There are no private rooms, we believe that the best care is provided with the expertise concentrated in one place, rather than a in a ward of mixed specialties.

Your belongings will stay by your bedside. We recommend you do not bring valuables to the day ward as we have no lockers.

Please arrive at 7.30am for admission when you will be seen by your cardiologist. Then you will be given a time when the procedure will happen; this must take account of any emergency patient who may need to be prioritised.

You will be informed before coming whether need to fast before your procedure. Light refreshments will be offered to you after the procedure.

You may wish to bring something to read, your mobile or other entertainment to keep you occupied between tests, during treatment or while you recover.

Your relatives and friends can drop you off; our staff will contact them when you are ready to leave. There is a restaurant and coffee shop on site. 

Watford General Hospital has a multi-storey car park which is a short walk from the Acute Admissions Unit. Payment is on exit using machines or an app. The car park has Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points. See further information on parking.

Before you leave you will be given any medication you need - we usually provide a week’s supply. We will give you advice on managing any pain, looking after your wounds if you’ve had surgery and answer any questions you have.

You will be told how long your recovery is expected to take, what you can to help your recovery and when you will be able to get back to your usual activities such as driving or work. You will be given a sick certificate if one is required.

We’ll let you know about the next steps and any follow-up appointment with your consultant.