Private cardiologist in Cambridge
Last reviewed: October 2026
Many heart symptoms turn out to be harmless, but some need prompt treatment. A consultant assessment, with the right tests arranged quickly, gives you a clear answer and a plan. I see adults with any heart concern, from a first episode of chest pain to long-standing conditions that need review.
When not to wait for an appointment
Call 999 if you have chest pain lasting more than 15 minutes or chest pain at rest, especially with sweating, nausea or breathlessness; if you faint and do not recover quickly; or if you have sudden severe breathlessness. These can be signs of a heart attack or another emergency.
Chest pain and angina
Chest pain has many causes, including the heart, lungs, gullet, muscles and anxiety. Angina is chest discomfort caused by narrowed heart arteries. It typically feels like tightness, heaviness or pressure, comes on with exertion or stress, may spread to the arm, neck or jaw, and settles with rest.
The assessment usually starts with an ECG and blood tests, often followed by a CT coronary angiogram, which can rule coronary artery disease in or out. If narrowings are found, treatment ranges from medicines to a coronary angiogram and angioplasty and stents.
Breathlessness
Getting out of breath more easily than before can come from the heart, the lungs, anaemia or reduced fitness. Heart causes include heart failure (a weak or stiff heart muscle), heart valve disease, coronary artery disease and heart rhythm problems.
A physical exam and an echocardiogram are usually the first step. These show how well the heart pumps and whether it is under strain. Depending on the results, a cardiac MRI or tests for coronary artery disease may follow.
Palpitations
Palpitations are an awareness of your heartbeat: a pounding, fluttering, racing or skipped beat. They are very common and usually harmless, often caused by extra beats (ectopics), caffeine, alcohol, stress or poor sleep.
Sometimes they are caused by a heart rhythm problem such as atrial fibrillation, which matters because it increases the risk of stroke. An ECG, an echocardiogram and a heart rhythm monitor worn for 24 hours to 7 days usually give the answer. Recordings from smartwatches can also be very helpful, so please bring them.
If you need a specialist rhythm procedure, such as an ablation, I will refer you to an electrophysiology colleague.
Dizziness and blackouts
Most episodes of dizziness or fainting are caused by a temporary drop in blood pressure, for example on standing up quickly, after a long time standing, or with dehydration. Less commonly, they are caused by a slow or fast heart rhythm or a narrowed heart valve.
Blackouts during exercise, or without warning, need prompt assessment. Tests may include an ECG, an echocardiogram, a heart rhythm monitor and blood pressure measurements lying and standing. Please read the DVLA guidance, as some blackouts affect your entitlement to drive.
Heart valve problems
Heart valves keep blood flowing in the right direction. A valve can become narrowed (stenosis), which is common in the aortic valve with age, or leaky (regurgitation). A heart murmur heard by your GP is often the first sign.
An echocardiogram shows how severe the problem is. Mild valve disease usually needs only periodic monitoring. Severe disease causing symptoms may need a valve replacement or repair, either by surgery or by keyhole techniques such as TAVI, and I will refer you to the appropriate specialist team.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure rarely causes symptoms but increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. Readings in a clinic can be misleadingly high, so the diagnosis is confirmed with a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor or home readings.
The assessment also looks for causes and for any effect on the heart, for example thickening of the heart muscle on an echocardiogram. Treatment combines lifestyle measures with medicines tailored to you.
Cholesterol and heart risk
High cholesterol, including inherited conditions such as familial hypercholesterolaemia and raised lipoprotein(a), is one of the most important treatable causes of heart disease. Deciding whether to start treatment, and which one, depends on your overall risk.
A heart health check combines blood tests, a risk calculation and, where appropriate, a CT scan of the heart arteries to give you a clear answer.
Tests
Tests are chosen to answer the question your symptoms raise, rather than as a fixed package.
| Test | What it shows |
|---|---|
| ECG | Heart rhythm, and signs of strain or previous damage. Done at your appointment. |
| Echocardiogram | An ultrasound scan of the heart's pumping function and valves. |
| Heart rhythm monitor (Holter) | Records your heart rhythm continuously for 24 hours to several days. |
| 24-hour blood pressure monitor | Your blood pressure through a normal day and night. |
| Blood tests | Cholesterol, Lp(a), diabetes, kidney and thyroid function, and markers of heart strain. |
| CT coronary angiogram | The heart arteries, including plaque and calcium. |
| Cardiac MRI | Detailed images of the heart muscle, including scarring and blood supply. |
| Myocardial perfusion scan | Blood flow to the heart muscle at rest and under stress. |
Scans such as CT, cardiac MRI and perfusion imaging are carried out by specialist imaging colleagues in Cambridge, and I review the results with them.
Your first appointment
- Before you come. Bring a list of your medicines, any previous test results or hospital letters, and readings from home blood pressure monitors or smartwatches.
- Consultation. We talk through your symptoms, medical and family history, and lifestyle, followed by an examination and an ECG.
- A plan. I explain what I think is going on and which tests, if any, are needed. Some can be arranged on the same day, some may require a separate appointment.
- Results and follow-up. Results are discussed with you in person or by video/telephone, and a letter is sent to you and, with your permission, your GP.
Questions patients ask
Do I need a GP referral to see a private cardiologist?
If you are paying for yourself, you can usually book directly, although a letter from your GP with your medical history is helpful. If you are using private medical insurance, your insurer will normally require a GP referral and a pre-authorisation number.
How quickly can I be seen?
Private appointments are usually available within days rather than weeks. Please contact the private secretary for current availability.
Can tests be done on the same day as the consultation?
An ECG is done at the appointment, and other tests such as an echocardiogram or blood tests can often be arranged on the same day or shortly afterwards. Scans such as CT or MRI are booked as soon as possible.
Do you offer video/telephone consultations?
Yes, for follow-up appointments, reviewing results and some first consultations. A face-to-face appointment is best when an examination or ECG is needed.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
A list of your current medicines, any previous test results or hospital letters, readings from home blood pressure monitors or smartwatches if you have them, and your insurance details if applicable.
Fees and insurance
Dr Kaier works with all major UK insurers, including Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva and Vitality. Please obtain pre-authorisation before your appointment. For self-funding patients, the consultation fee is confirmed when you book, and the cost of any tests is agreed with you before they are done.
Book a consultation
Dr Tom Kaier is a Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Royal Papworth Hospital. He sees adult self-funding and insured patients with any heart concern at Cambridge Heart Clinic and Royal Papworth Hospital.
View booking optionsThis page provides general information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. If you have chest pain at rest, or chest pain that does not settle, call 999.
Written and reviewed by Dr Thomas Kaier MD MRCP(UK) MBA PhD, GMC No. 7025841.
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