Understanding your Echocardiogram
You have been referred for an Echocardiogram. This guide will tell you about the procedure and help you prepare for the appointment.
What is an Echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram uses an ultrasound machine to take a scan of your heart. It is carried out by a specially qualified technician and is sometimes just called an ‘echo’. Ultrasound machines detect sounds that are so high frequency they cannot be heard by humans. It is called an echocardiogram because the sound ‘bounces’ back from the heart tissue to give an accurate picture of the heart. For example, ultrasound passes easily through fluid so there is little echo from the blood in the heart. The amount of ultrasound which echoes back depends on the thickness of the tissue that the sound has hit. However, heart valves are more solid, so the ultrasound waves hitting a valve will send back a clear picture of it. Some abnormalities can be seen quite clearly. For example, damaged heart valves, thickened heart muscle and some congenital heart problems (present from birth).
Are there any side effects?
An echocardiogram is painless and harmless.
Before your appointment
You do not need to make any special preparations for your echocardiogram. You may eat and drink normally before and after the test. Continue to take your usual medication. However, please tell the reception staff about your medication when you arrive so that they can record it in your notes. Some medications may affect the normal rhythm of the heart and our doctors need to be aware of this when looking at your results. If you have any questions or need advice, please contact us on 0844 581 0300.
If you need help because you speak a different language, or you would like a friend, relative or carer to come with you, please let us know when you book your appointment.
Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time; if you are late we may not be able to carry out your test. Please do not bring children to your appointment.
What happens during the test?
You will need to undress down to the waist and lie on the couch. A probe is placed on your chest (it is a bit like a very thick blunt pen). Also, lubricating jelly is put on your chest so the probe makes good contact with the skin. A female assistant will always be present. They can stay with you during the examination should you require.
How long will it take?
An echocardiogram will usually take between 15 minutes and half an hour. In some circumstances, a more detailed scan may be needed which may take 45 minutes.
How will I get the results?
The doctor who referred you will receive the echocardiogram report and images. You should telephone to confirm that they have received your report before arranging an appointment, unless the doctor has made different arrangements with you.
Giving your consent for the procedure
The information in this leaflet will give you an idea of what is involved in your echocardiogram. Before any medical procedure can be performed, the healthcare professional carrying out the procedure will let you know what to expect. It is your right to be given all the information you need to make an informed choice about whether you want to go through with the procedure
or not. Please feel free to ask any questions.
or not. Please feel free to ask any questions.
You only need to agree to this examination verbally.
In addition to giving consent for the test or procedure to be undertaken, either verbal or written, all NHS patients are required to give written consent to data sharing. This is because we have to share patient identifiable information with other organisations in order to report a patient’s scan/test and we have to share the test results with the referring GP or consultant. Occasionally it is necessary to request a further report for a second opinion. We are also obliged to provide a sample of our images and reports to an independent clinician for clinical audit and quality assurance. Any audit reports issued contain no patient identifiable information.
InHealth has a strict policy regarding patient confidentiality which means that we never share information about patients with anyone/organisation that does not need to know about the patient’s clinical condition. InHealth never shares any information about patients with commercial companies or gives personal details to anyone who works outside of our company, its clinical providers and the local NHS. All our clinical providers conform with our confidentiality policy.
If you are not willing to complete the consent process in accordance with our requirements it may not be possible to complete your test or procedure.
Further information
For further information, please contact the Patient Referral Centre on 0844 581 0300, or visit our website at www.inhealthlondon.com
About InHealth (London)
We are a leading independent health-care provider and we provide X-rays, scans and other tests on behalf of the NHS. We are committed to helping GPs meet their 18-week 'referral-to-treatment' waiting-time targets by providing various tests and scans locally to help GPs make a diagnosis as quickly as possible. GPs are able to refer you directly to us for tests so you won't need to attend a hospital outpatient appointment. We will send your test results to your
GP so that they can decide whether you need to see a hospital specialist. For more information, please visit our website www.inhealthlondon.com or contact us as shown below:
Patient Information Line: 0844 581 0300
Email: londoninfo@inhealthgroup.com
How to Complain
If you have a complaint about any part of the service you have received from us, you can do one of the following.
1. Discuss it with the Unit Manager during your visit.
2. Call our Customer Care Team on 0844 581 0300
3. Write to the Quality Manager, InHealth (London), Beechwood Hall, Kingsmead Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP11 1JL.
4. Use the NHS complaints procedure on the Department of Health’s website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/OrganisationPolicy/ComplaintsPolicy/fs/en.
We welcome your comments about our service. We recognise that the way we monitor and handle complaints reflects the quality of our service and represents an opportunity for us to continuously improve.
When we are handling your complaint, we promise to:
• be accessible – you can contact us to check on the progress of your complaint;
• be impartial – we will treat every complaint fairly;
• be responsive – we will reply to you as soon as we can, and let you know if there will be a delay; and
• respect your confidentiality.
We will attempt to sort out your complaint as soon as possible after receiving it. We will usually acknowledge written complaints within 48 hours of receiving them, and send you a full reply within 20 working days of your complaint. If we cannot sort out your complaint within 20 working days, we will tell you what progress we have made and why there has been a delay.
A complaints handler will deal with your complaint. If you are not satisfied with their reply, you can ask for your complaint to be referred to the Operations Director.
If you have any other questions or you would like a copy of our customer complaints policy, please call our Customer Care Team on 0844 581 0300
We have a number of sites which perform scans and tests. Directions to all of them can be found here.
