Heart Health Check Diamond

The Heart Health Check Diamond is our most complete non-invasive cardiac and vascular assessment — described as “The Ultimate Cardiac MOT”. It combines:

• Everything in the Premium tier (Cardiologist-led cardiac assessment, GP consultation, Extended Blood Test panel, and Advanced Cardiac Risk Profile with ApoA1, ApoB, Lp(a), hs-CRP, Lp-PLA2)
• Plus a Carotid Artery Doppler Ultrasound — performed by a registered Vascular Scientist — for direct stroke risk assessment

Three specialists work together: Cardiologist for the heart, Vascular Scientist for carotid imaging, and GP for integrated interpretation. From £1,220 all-inclusive. No GP referral required.

Both Diamond and Premium include the same Cardiologist-led cardiac assessment, GP consultation, Extended Blood Test panel, and Advanced Cardiac Risk Profile.

The single addition in Diamond is a Carotid Artery Doppler Ultrasound — performed by a Vascular Scientist — which directly visualises plaque buildup in the carotid arteries (the major neck arteries supplying blood to the brain). The Carotid Doppler measures plaque thickness, identifies any narrowing (stenosis), and assesses blood flow patterns.

This adds a stroke risk dimension to the heart risk assessment. Diamond is for patients who want the imaging-confirmed assessment of both their heart AND their stroke risk.

A Carotid Artery Doppler Ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging test that uses ultrasound to assess the carotid arteries in the neck — the major blood vessels supplying blood and oxygen to the brain. Atherosclerotic plaque buildup in these arteries is one of the leading causes of stroke.

The scan uses two techniques:

• B-mode imaging shows the structure of the artery wall and any visible plaque
• Doppler ultrasound measures blood flow speed and direction, identifying significant narrowing (stenosis)

The scan is painless, takes about 30 minutes, uses no radiation, and requires no preparation other than removing neck-area jewelry.

Heart attack and stroke share most of the same underlying causes — atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, dyslipidaemia, family history. However, the disease can be more advanced in one vascular territory than another.

A patient with normal heart imaging may have significant carotid disease (or vice versa). Carotid plaque is a strong predictor of:

• Future stroke
• Transient ischaemic attack (TIA, “mini-stroke”)
• Even future heart attack — because it indicates systemic vascular disease

By assessing both heart AND carotid arteries directly, Diamond delivers a complete cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk picture.

The Heart Health Check Diamond costs £1,220 all-inclusive. The fee includes:

• Cardiologist consultation, Echocardiogram, 12-lead ECG, physical examination
• GP consultation
• Extended Blood Test panel
• Advanced Cardiac Risk Profile (ApoA1, ApoB, Lp(a), hs-CRP, Lp-PLA2)
• Carotid Artery Doppler Ultrasound

Booking these components separately would cost approximately £1,244 — Diamond represents savings of approximately £24. The principal value of Diamond is the integrated multi-specialist clinical interpretation reading cardiac imaging, vascular imaging, and biomarkers together — not the cost saving alone.

The Carotid Doppler is performed by one of our two registered Vascular Scientists:

• Mr Pedram Aghaei — Clinical Vascular Scientist; BMUS: 20702, SVT: 679, SOR: 93290; co-founder of London Private Ultrasound
• Mr Reza Farahmandfar — MSc Vascular Medical Ultrasound

Both are specialists in carotid Doppler imaging, with extensive experience in stroke risk assessment and vascular ultrasound. Carotid imaging is highly operator-dependent, and having a registered Vascular Scientist perform the scan is the gold standard.

Heart Health Check Diamond is designed for patients who want the most complete non-invasive cardiovascular and stroke risk assessment available. Particularly suitable for:

• Individuals aged 50+ or with multiple cardiovascular risk factors
• Executives and professionals seeking a high-level wellness check
• Patients preparing for major surgery or intensive physical training
• Those with a family history of stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA), or heart attack
• Patients with hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidaemia at high cardiovascular risk
• Anyone wanting a proactive and complete picture of heart AND vascular health
• Patients with prior cardiovascular events wanting comprehensive surveillance
• Those experiencing transient neurological symptoms warranting both cardiac and carotid assessment

The Heart Health Check Diamond is delivered across approximately 2 hours on the day:

• 60 minutes — Cardiologist-led cardiac assessment
• 15 minutes — Blood sample collection
• 30 minutes — Carotid Doppler with the Vascular Scientist
• 15 minutes — Initial review and wrap-up

The advanced cardiac markers take 5-7 working days to process at the laboratory. The full integrated GP consultation is therefore typically scheduled 7-10 days after the initial visit.

The Carotid Doppler can detect:

• Plaque buildup in carotid artery walls (including small early plaque before any narrowing)
• Carotid artery stenosis (narrowing) — graded as mild, moderate, or severe
• Total occlusion of the carotid artery
• Carotid artery dissection
• Carotid bulb disease
• Vertebral artery direction and flow patterns
• Intima-media thickness (IMT) — an early marker of atherosclerosis
• Plaque morphology and stability

The findings determine stroke risk and guide management — from intensive lifestyle and medical therapy for early plaque, to statin and antiplatelet therapy for moderate disease, to surgical referral (carotid endarterectomy or stenting) for severe stenosis.

Preparation combines requirements for cardiac, blood, and vascular components:

• Fast for 8-12 hours before your appointment (water permitted)
• Continue your usual medications unless specifically advised
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing in two pieces
• The Carotid Doppler requires neck access — avoid high-collared clothing, scarves, or jewelry around the neck
• Avoid wearing perfume, deodorant, body lotion, or talcum powder on the chest and neck
• Bring any prior cardiology reports, ECGs, echocardiograms, carotid imaging, or advanced lipid results
• Allow approximately 2 hours for the appointment

If your Heart Health Check Diamond identifies a condition requiring NHS specialist management — such as significant carotid stenosis requiring surgical referral, or any cardiac findings requiring further investigation — we generate a same-day formal referral letter at no additional charge.

The referral is significantly stronger because it includes:

• A Consultant Cardiologist’s complete cardiac assessment
• A registered Vascular Scientist’s carotid imaging report
• Comprehensive blood results including advanced markers
• Your GP’s integrated clinical interpretation

This means your specialist appointment is significantly more productive from the first visit.