Cardiovascular risk screening · Harley Street, Central London & St Albans · 7 days a week
A heart health and stroke risk screening is a cardiologist-led check that combines four tests in one appointment: a carotid artery ultrasound for stroke-risk plaque, an Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) for peripheral arterial disease, an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) ultrasound and a 12-lead ECG for atrial fibrillation.
It costs £649 with a same-day written report and no GP referral needed. Most strokes are linked to risk factors that develop silently, so this screening gives you a clear, joined-up picture of your cardiovascular risk in a single visit.
| Price | £649 · all tests inclusive |
|---|---|
| Assessment type | Cardiologist-led cardiovascular screening package (4 tests) |
| Tests included | Carotid duplex ultrasound · Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) · Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) ultrasound · 12-lead ECG |
| Areas assessed | Carotid & vertebral arteries · abdominal aorta · arm & ankle circulation · heart rhythm |
| Radiation | None: ultrasound and ECG only |
| Duration | About 60 minutes |
| Preparation | Minimal: loose clothing; light fasting may be advised for the AAA scan |
| Referral | No GP referral needed |
| Report | Same-day written report, formatted for onward referral where needed |
Four targeted tests assess the arteries to your brain, the main vessel from your heart, the circulation to your legs and your heart rhythm: the areas most strongly linked to stroke and heart attack.
Choose a clinic and a time. Same-day and next-day appointments are often available, 7 days a week, with no GP referral needed.
Continue to our secure booking page to choose your clinic and appointment time.
Book Heart & Stroke Risk Screening · £649Stroke and heart attack are most often the end-point of conditions that build up silently over years: narrowed arteries to the brain, a widening aorta, poor circulation to the limbs, or an irregular heartbeat. None of these typically cause symptoms until they are advanced.
This screening brings together the four checks that map those risks most directly. Your carotid arteries in the neck supply most of the blood to your brain, so plaque or narrowing there is one of the clearest warning signs of stroke risk. The abdominal aorta is the body’s main artery, and a slowly enlarging aneurysm can be silent until dangerous. The Ankle-Brachial Index compares blood pressure at the arm and ankle to reveal peripheral arterial disease. A 12-lead ECG detects atrial fibrillation, a common irregular rhythm that sharply raises stroke risk.
Because a cardiologist interprets all four together, you receive a joined-up picture of your cardiovascular risk rather than four isolated results, with a same-day report you can act on.
Each test targets one of the main causes of stroke and heart attack. Together they show where your risk comes from and what to do next.
The carotid duplex scan looks for plaque, the percentage of narrowing (stenosis) and turbulent flow in the neck arteries. Irregular or ulcerated plaque carries a higher stroke risk than smooth plaque.
The arteries at the back of the neck also feed the brain. We check the direction and speed of flow for signs of narrowing or blockage.
The AAA ultrasound measures the widest diameter of the aorta. A larger diameter carries a higher risk of rupture, so the measurement guides how closely you are monitored.
The Ankle-Brachial Index compares blood pressure at the ankle and the arm. A low ratio points to peripheral arterial disease and wider cardiovascular risk.
The 12-lead ECG detects atrial fibrillation and flutter, a major and treatable cause of stroke, along with other rate and rhythm irregularities.
The ECG also shows evidence of previous heart strain or conduction changes, and any finding that warrants onward cardiology review.
Fatty plaque narrowing the neck arteries that supply the brain, a leading cause of stroke. Carotid Doppler scan →
A bulge in the body’s main artery that can enlarge silently. AAA scan →
Narrowed leg arteries, and a marker of risk to the heart and brain. ABPI scan →
An irregular heart rhythm that allows clots to form, sharply raising stroke risk. ECG test →
Stroke, heart attack or aneurysm in close relatives.
High blood pressure, raised cholesterol or diabetes.
A proactive cardiovascular risk check before symptoms appear.
A smoking history, high stress or a sedentary routine.
No symptoms, but you want clarity and reassurance.
Monitoring after a previous finding or diagnosis.
Preparation is minimal and nothing hurts. The whole appointment takes about 60 minutes.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing with easy access to the neck, chest and ankles, and avoid heavy moisturiser on the neck and chest. Light fasting may be advised for the abdominal scan, which we confirm at booking. Bring your medication list and any past scan reports.
Symptoms, family history, blood pressure and medication, so the tests are read in context.
Warm gel and a probe on the neck and abdomen, blood pressure cuffs on the arms and ankles, and small ECG sensors on the chest, arms and legs. No needles, no radiation.
The cardiologist talks you through the results and you leave with a written report and clear next steps.
If something is found: you leave with a clear plan, never just a result. That may be lifestyle and risk-factor advice, a GP review, a cardiology consultation with us to go through the findings, or a referral letter to the right specialist. Urgent findings are followed up promptly.
All four tests are interpreted by an experienced cardiologist, not left as disconnected results. You get one joined-up view of your risk.
Same-day and next-day appointments are often available, and your report is ready on the day. There is no wait for a routine NHS pathway.
Book directly, with no GP referral. If a finding needs onward care, we write the referral letter for you.
Carotid, aorta, leg circulation and heart rhythm are checked together in about an hour. Separate NHS pathways usually mean separate appointments.
Choose Harley Street in Central London or St Albans in Hertfordshire. The same screening and price apply at both.
CQC and ICO registered, with more than 35,000 patients and a 4.8 Google rating from over 1,200 reviews. £649 covers everything, with no extras.
Cardiovascular risk screening at both clinics, 7 days a week from 9am to 7pm, with same-day and next-day slots often available. No GP referral needed.
27 Welbeck Street, London W1G 8EN
Two minutes from Bond Street station (Elizabeth, Central and Jubilee lines), five from Oxford Circus and eight from Marylebone and Baker Street. Also close to Great Portland Street and Regent’s Park. Convenient for Mayfair, Fitzrovia, Soho, Paddington, the City, Stratford and Essex via the Elizabeth line.
54–56 Victoria Street, St Albans AL1 3HZ
A short walk from St Albans City station, with parking nearby and fast Thameslink trains from London St Pancras. Convenient for Harpenden, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Luton, Radlett and North London.
Your screening sits within a CQC-registered service, interpreted by clinicians on the UK’s professional registers.
Care Quality Commission
Independent regulator of health and social care in England.
General Medical Council
Register for doctors, including our cardiologists and medical director.
Royal College of Physicians
Professional standards for physicians, including cardiologists (MRCP).
British Society of Echocardiography
Professional body for cardiac imaging and echocardiography.
Royal College of General Practitioners
Professional standards for GPs, including our medical director (MRCGP).
Your results are interpreted by one of our cardiologists, with clinical governance from our Medical Director.
Dr Farveh Vakilian Aghouee
CardiologistGMC-registered cardiologist · cardiovascular risk assessment, ECG interpretation and heart health review
Dr Hana Pospisilova
CardiologistGMC-registered cardiologist · heart rhythm assessment, ECG interpretation and cardiac assessment
Dr Mohammad Al-Majali
CardiologistGMC-registered cardiologist · cardiac assessment, ECG interpretation and echocardiography
Dr Babak Soleimanpour
Medical Director & GPGMC-registered GP · MD · MRCGP · DRCOG · overall clinical governance
Most strokes, around 85 in every 100, are ischaemic strokes, caused by a blood clot or a narrowed artery cutting off the blood supply to part of the brain. The rest are haemorrhagic strokes, caused by bleeding in or around the brain.
Ischaemic strokes are commonly linked to fatty plaque in the neck (carotid) arteries, atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat that allows clots to form), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking. Many of these can be found and managed early, which is what this screening is designed to do.
Yes. A stroke risk screening looks for the conditions that most often lead to a stroke, rather than waiting for symptoms. Our cardiologist-led screening combines four tests in one visit: a carotid artery ultrasound for plaque and narrowing, an Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) for circulation, an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) ultrasound and a 12-lead ECG for atrial fibrillation.
It does not predict a stroke on a particular day, and it is not a substitute for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes checks. It gives you and your doctor a clear, joined-up picture of your risk so you can act on it.
There is no official ranking of stroke consultants. A good choice is a doctor on the GMC specialist register in stroke medicine, neurology, cardiology or vascular surgery, with experience of your particular concern. Your GP or hospital team can refer you to one on the NHS, and you can check any doctor’s registration on the GMC website.
This screening is about assessing risk. It is led by GMC-registered cardiologists, and if a finding needs a specialist we provide a referral letter. If you think you are having a stroke, call 999 straight away. See when to seek urgent help.
On the NHS, adults in England aged 40 to 74 without a known heart condition can have an NHS Health Check every five years, and men are invited for an aortic aneurysm scan in the year they turn 65. Your GP can arrange other tests if you have symptoms or risk factors.
Privately, you can book directly with no referral. We offer a cardiologist-led cardiovascular risk screening at our Central London and St Albans clinics, seven days a week, with all four tests in one appointment and a same-day written report.
Our Heart Health & Stroke Risk Screening costs £649, all-inclusive. That covers the carotid artery ultrasound, the Ankle-Brachial Index, the abdominal aortic aneurysm ultrasound, the 12-lead ECG, the cardiologist’s interpretation and your same-day written report. There are no extra fees.
Private cardiovascular screening in London ranges from a few hundred pounds for blood-test-only or basic checks to several thousand pounds for full-day assessments. Check what is included, who interprets the results and whether you get a written report. If you want blood tests added, see our Premium Heart Health Check with blood test.
Doctors usually combine several checks: blood pressure, a heart rhythm test (ECG), blood tests for cholesterol and diabetes, and sometimes an ultrasound of the neck arteries. Our screening includes four of these in one visit: carotid duplex ultrasound, Ankle-Brachial Index, AAA ultrasound and a 12-lead ECG.
Together they assess the arteries to your brain, the main artery from your heart, the circulation to your legs and your heart rhythm. Blood tests are not part of the £649 screening.
Blood tests can show some risk factors, such as cholesterol, blood sugar (HbA1c) and kidney function, but there is no single blood test that tells you whether you will have a stroke. Tests are used alongside blood pressure, heart rhythm and artery checks.
Blood tests are not included in the £649 screening. You can add them through the Premium Heart Health Check or book private blood tests. Genetic testing is not part of routine stroke risk assessment in the UK and is not included in this screening.
A Doppler test is an ultrasound technique that measures the speed and direction of blood flow. In this screening it is used on the carotid arteries in the neck to look for plaque and narrowing, and on the abdominal aorta to check for an aneurysm. The Ankle-Brachial Index compares blood pressure at the arm and ankle to check the circulation to your legs. It uses no radiation and no needles.
If you are looking for a Doppler test of the heart itself, that is part of an echocardiogram, which looks at the heart’s structure and pumping. You can also book the neck artery scan on its own as a carotid Doppler scan.
An echocardiogram looks at the heart’s structure and pumping. A heart health check usually combines a cardiologist consultation, an echo and an ECG. This screening focuses on stroke and vascular risk: the neck arteries, the aorta, leg circulation and heart rhythm.
Many people choose the screening if their main worry is stroke or a family history of vascular disease, and a heart health check or echo if their main worry is symptoms such as breathlessness or palpitations. Ask us if you are unsure which is right.
No. You can book directly online or by phone, without a GP referral. Online booking is for patients aged 18 and over.
Your written report is formatted for onward referral. If a finding needs action, we provide a referral letter to your GP or a specialist, and you can share the report with your NHS GP or private doctor.
Allow about 60 minutes for all four tests and your discussion with the cardiologist. Wear loose clothing for easy access to the neck, chest and ankles. Light fasting may be advised for the abdominal ultrasound, which we confirm when you book. Bring a list of your medication and any previous scan reports.
It is painless. The scans use warm gel and a probe, the Ankle-Brachial Index uses blood pressure cuffs on the arms and ankles, and the ECG uses small sensors on the chest, arms and legs. There are no needles and no radiation.
The cardiologist explains the main findings before you leave. You receive a written report the same day, with clear next steps. If something needs action, you leave with a plan, not just a result: this may be lifestyle and risk-factor advice, a GP review, a cardiology consultation with us, or a referral letter to a specialist.
Most screenings are reassuring. Urgent findings, such as severe carotid narrowing or newly detected atrial fibrillation, are followed up promptly.
It suits adults who want a proactive cardiovascular check, especially if you are over 40, have a family history of stroke, heart attack or aneurysm, or have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or a smoking history. It is also used for peace of mind, or to monitor a known vascular condition.
Carotid disease, atrial fibrillation and peripheral arterial disease affect both men and women, so the screening is suitable for everyone. Abdominal aortic aneurysm is more common in older men, but the scan is included for all.
Yes. The carotid Doppler scan, the AAA scan, the Ankle-Brachial (ABPI) test and the ECG are all available individually. The £649 screening bundles all four, with a cardiologist interpreting the results together, in one visit at a lower combined price.
If you only need one check, for example a carotid Doppler scan for the neck arteries or an ECG, call 020 7101 3377 and we will advise.
London Private Ultrasound has two clinics. Central London is at 27 Welbeck Street, W1G 8EN, in the Harley Street Medical District, a short walk from Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Marylebone and Baker Street. St Albans is at 54–56 Victoria Street, AL1 3HZ, near St Albans City station.
Both are open seven days a week, 9am to 7pm, and same-day or next-day appointments are often available. Book in the calendar on this page or call 020 7101 3377.
A screening is for people without current symptoms. If you think someone is having a stroke, think FAST: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech slurred or confused, Time to call 999. Call 999 for sudden numbness, loss of vision, severe headache or loss of balance, too.
Also call 999 or go to A&E for current chest pain, especially with breathlessness, sweating, collapse, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw. Do not wait for a booked appointment.
Medical disclaimer. This page is general information and does not replace individual medical advice. A screening estimates risk and does not predict or prevent a stroke on its own. It cannot rule out every condition. Call 999 if you think someone is having a stroke, or if you have current chest pain, breathlessness, collapse or pain spreading to the arm or jaw, rather than booking a routine screening.
