How much does a private GP cost?

Private GP consultations at our Whitechapel clinic start from £59, with transparent pricing and no hidden costs. Full pricing for every service — 96 published prices — including blood tests, ultrasound, ADHD assessments and specialist consultations is listed on our fees page.

Do I need a GP referral?

No referral needed for most appointments — you can book directly with a private GP, ultrasound, blood tests or many of our specialist services. A small number of consultant clinics prefer a referral letter, which our GPs can issue same-day if needed.

How quickly can I be seen?

Most private GP appointments are available the same day, including evenings and weekends. We're open seven days a week 9am–7pm at our Whitechapel clinic, serving patients across East London, the City of London, Aldgate and Liverpool Street.

Do you accept private medical insurance?

Many appointments are self-pay with an itemised invoice you can submit to Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Aviva or Cigna for reimbursement where applicable. Please contact our reception team to confirm your specific insurance arrangement before booking.

Where exactly are you located?

We're at 97-99 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1DT, in East London. Aldgate East is the closest station, just a few minutes' walk away. Whitechapel station (Elizabeth, District & Hammersmith & City lines and the Overground) and Liverpool Street are also nearby — a short journey from the City of London. Multiple bus routes stop directly outside.

What services do you offer?

Our Whitechapel clinic offers private GP, urgent care, health MOTs, ADHD assessments, ultrasound, cardiology, ENT, dermatology, aesthetics, hair transplants, women's and men's health, plus the full published price list.

Scans & Imaging · In house · Consultant-led

Echocardiography (echo).

A safe, radiation-free ultrasound of your heart, performed and interpreted in house by a consultant cardiologist. Useful for breathlessness, palpitations, murmurs and valve or heart-muscle conditions — often with same-visit discussion of the findings.

Book a consultation Common questions

Educational information — not a substitute for clinical assessment

This page explains echocardiography in general terms. Whether an echo is right for you, and which type, is decided at consultation.

On this page

What an echo is
Why it is done
Types of echo
What to expect
Your results

What an echocardiogram is

An echocardiogram (“echo”) is an ultrasound scan of the heart. Using sound waves — no radiation — it produces moving images of the heart’s chambers, valves and the flow of blood through them. It is one of the most useful, safe and widely used tests in cardiology.

At Tower Bridge Hospital London, echo is performed and interpreted in house by a consultant cardiologist, so you can often discuss the findings at the same visit.

Why it is done

An echo helps assess symptoms such as breathlessness, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness or a murmur. It can evaluate the heart’s pumping function, the heart valves, the size and thickness of the heart muscle, and pressures in the heart. It is used in conditions including heart failure, valve disease, cardiomyopathy and after a heart attack.

Types of echo

Transthoracic echo (TTE) — the standard scan, performed with a probe on the chest.
Stress echo — images taken before and after exercise or medication, to assess the heart under strain (where clinically indicated).

What to expect

You lie on a couch while a small probe with gel is moved over your chest. It is painless and usually takes 20–45 minutes. There is no special preparation for a standard echo and you can return to normal activities straight away.

Your results

Because the scan is performed by a consultant cardiologist, initial findings can often be discussed with you at the visit, with a full report to follow. If treatment or further tests are needed, we arrange them promptly.

Frequently asked questions

Is an echocardiogram safe?

Yes. It uses ultrasound (sound waves), not radiation, and is painless with no known risks for a standard scan.

Does it hurt?

No. A probe with gel is moved over your chest; it is comfortable and non-invasive.

How long does it take?

A standard transthoracic echo usually takes 20 to 45 minutes.

Do I need to prepare?

No special preparation is needed for a standard echo. For a stress echo you will be given specific instructions.

Who performs and reports it?

Your echo is performed and interpreted in house by a consultant cardiologist, so findings can often be discussed at the same visit.

Your care at the clinic

Who performs your imaging

Imaging at Tower Bridge Hospital London is delivered in house where possible and through trusted CQC-registered partner centres for MRI, CT and X-ray, with Dr Haydar Bolat as Clinical Director.

Consultant Cardiologist · CMR Specialist

Dr Cemil Izgi

Consultant cardiologist who performs and interprets echocardiography in house. Specialist in cardiovascular imaging, including cardiac MRI, with an interest in valve disease, cardiomyopathy and heart failure.

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An echocardiogram being performed at Tower Bridge Hospital London

Stock photograph posed by models, shown for illustration only. It does not depict our premises, our staff or our patients. Your echo is performed by the clinicians listed above.

Editorial review

This page was reviewed by Dr Haydar Bolat, Clinical Director at Tower Bridge Hospital London. Content is based on British Society of Echocardiography and general cardiology guidance. Educational information only; it is not a substitute for individual medical advice.

Concerned about your heart?

Book a consultation for a same-visit echo where appropriate, interpreted by a consultant cardiologist.

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