GP Health Partner’s Community Cardiology Diagnostic Service provides membership practices with both the equipment and the support necessary to undertake ECGs and Ambulatory ECGs closer to the patient rather than via referral to secondary care. We also offer additional clinics that practices can book into if needed.
Our GP practices can also refer registered patients for an echocardiogram at either of our clinics in Epsom or Leatherhead.
What is an electrocardiogram (ECG)?
An ECG is a painless test that looks at the electrical rhythm of your heart and and is a useful starting point for most cardiology investigations. It involves placing 4 electrodes (sticky pads) on your arms and legs and 6 across your chest, while you lie in a relaxed position. This is a painless procedure and the electrodes are sticky so they attach to the skin. Please do not apply emollients or creams to your skin before you attend. People with a hairy chest may need to have some hair shaved away in order for the recording to work. The Health Care Assistant will do this for you at the appointment if needed.
What happens during the test?
You will be asked to remove all of your clothing from the waist up for the duration of the test, which usually takes between 5 to 10 minutes. Gowns available on request.
Where will this appointment take place
Your GP may book you an appointment with us rather than at your practice so you are seen sooner. If you consent to be seen by us, you are assured that we have full access to your medical record and that results will go back to your practice. We hold clinics on Wednesday afternoons and most Saturdays. We have appointments at the Mezzanine Level (above The Derby Medical Centre, 8 Epsom Square, Epsom KT19 8AG and at Leatherhead Community Hospital (GP Hub), Poplar Road, Leatherhead KT22 8SD.
What is an AECG? (Holter Monitor)
Ambulatory electrocardiography (AECG) is used to detect, characterise and document cardiac arrhythmias (where the heart beats too slowly, too quickly, or irregularly) in clinical practice. As some arrhythmias are infrequent or may occur only during certain activities (eg, sleep or exercise), it is usual to record the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time, usually 24 hours.
A 24-hour cardiac monitor is also often termed Holter monitor after Norman Holter who invented cardiac monitoring in 1949. Nowadays monitoring may be done for 48 hours and even seven continuous days.
What happens during the test?
A small device with two small leads are attached to your chest.
The ECG On-Demand® Tracker application allows patients to easily record symptoms when they occur. Events are automatically transferred to the reporting platform but a traditional form-based alternative is available for patients who do not have access to a smartphone.
The Holter monitor has been designed so that you can go about your normal activities during the wear-period. This means you exercise and undertake normal activities without taking it off. The Holter monitor will take a constant recording of your heart so that your doctor can make a quicker and more accurate clinical diagnosis of what is causing your symptoms.
You can still shower whilst wearing the device but you must NOT submerge it, so no baths or swimming.
Where will this appointment take place?
Your GP may book you an appointment with us rather than at your practice so you are seen sooner. If you consent to be seen by us, you are assured that we have full access to your medical record and that results will go back to your practice. We hold clinics on Tuesdays, Wednesday afternoons Thursdays and most Saturdays. We have appointments at the Mezzanine Level (above The Derby Medical Centre, 8 Epsom Square, Epsom KT19 8AG) and at Leatherhead Community Hospital (GP Hub), Poplar Road, Leatherhead KT22 8SD.
If you are self-fitting a monitor, it is important you carefully read the guide, follow the instructions and at the end of the wear-period you should return the holter to the agreed location.
No appointment is needed to return the device. Simply follow the instructions provided at the appointment or when you collect for how to return the holter monitor.
Watch the video for how to fit the Holter or download the guides below depending on your chosen location.
Leatherhead Holter Monitoring Guide
When the wear-time is over, patients can simply detach the device and return to the clinic as instructed. Once uploaded, results are returned to the registered GP practice, usually within 24 hours.
What is an echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram, or “echo”, is a scan used to look at the heart and nearby blood vessels.
It’s a type of ultrasound scan, which means a small probe is used to send out high-frequency sound waves that create echoes when they bounce off different parts of the body.
These echoes are picked up by the probe and turned into a moving image on a monitor while the scan is carried out.
An echocardiogram may be requested by a heart specialist (cardiologist) or any doctor who thinks you might have a problem with your heart, including your GP.
The test will usually be carried out at a hospital or clinic by a cardiologist, cardiac physiologist, or a trained technician called a sonographer.
Although it has a similar name, an echocardiogram is not the same as an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is a test used to check your heart’s rhythm and electrical activity.
When is an echocardiogram is used
An echocardiogram can help diagnose and monitor certain heart conditions by checking the structure of the heart and surrounding blood vessels, analysing how blood flows through them, and assessing the pumping chambers of the heart.
What happens during the test?
You will be asked to remove all of your clothing from the waist up for the duration of the test, which usually takes around 20-30 minutes. We recommend wearing clothing that is easy to remove and patients will be offered a gown to wear during the test.
Where will this appointment take place?
We offer echocardiograms via GP referral in either the centre of Epsom at the Mezzanine Level (above The Derby Medical Centre, 8 Epsom Square, Epsom KT19 8AG or Leatherhead Community Hospital, (GP Hub) Poplar Road, Leatherhead KT22 8SD. These clinics enable patients to be seen in the community, often with improved wait times for diagnostics.
Patient Queries
Your GP will responsible for discussing results with you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01372 232001. Alternatively. please contact us by email: [email protected]
Chaperones in Consultations
All patients are entitled to have someone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel one is required. If you require a chaperone, please ask a member of the team. Click the link for more information about our Chaperone Policy
The service is overseen by GPHP’s Medical Director – Dr Vinothan Ganesaratnam who will have responsibility for overseeing the clinical governance of the community based cardiology diagnostic service.
