Most economic access to ECG?

Speak to GP. I’ve had a couple due to palpitations. All have been done at the surgery and took no time at all

Go see your GP,tell him you get chest pain on and off, and you are very anxious. He should sort out an ECG quickly as it's first investigation of choice.

Dont waste your gps time. If you want unnecessary tests pay for them.

If you want unnecessary tests pay for them

Did you read my OP?

1. It's VERY necessary to me.
2. I dismissed taking the piss out of the NHS and asked for cheaper alternatives to BUPA.

Just nasty.

I suffer with general health anxiety and feel that a cardiac MOT would be a good move for me.

You can have a cardiac MOT, but you will still have general health anxiety, you'll just think you are getting something else. Why not try to get to speak to your GP about addressing the anxiety?

If you have actual cardiac symptoms, then speak to your GP about them.

GP,tell him you get chest pain on and off

But only if you have them. Don't lie to your GP.

but you will still have general health anxiety

I know this.

If you were terrified of flying, would it help to see the positive results of airframe, avionics and hydraulics testing of the aircraft you are traveling on?

Why not try to get to speak to your GP about addressing the anxiety?

If you have actual cardiac symptoms, then speak to your GP about them.

This. Address the problem.

If you were terrified of flying, would it help to see the positive results of airframe, avionics and hydraulics testing of the aircraft you are traveling on?

Paging @kryton57

If you were terrified of flying, would it help to see the positive results of airframe, avionics and hydraulics testing of the aircraft you are traveling on?

The issue would be my irrational fear of flying, not the safety record of any individual plane I'm hoping to get on. Next time I fly, I'd want the safety record for that plane etc. Or I'd start worrying about flocks of birds near the runway or terrorists.

Don't get me wrong, I sympathise entirely and understand that ECGs and blood tests would partially alleviate your fears for now and probably make you feel a whole lot better temporarily, but the root of the problem would remain your anxiety.

If your anxiety is actually giving you heart palpitations or chest pain, obviously get this addressed. If it's not, then the price of easing your anxiety for now is 725 quid.

PS I know, as a bloke, that it's a hell of a lot easier to ask a health professional to look for a specific physical problem than it is to say 'Look, I'm ****ing terrified about this for no particular reason, can you help me?' We should all be encouraging each other to look out for our mental health and seek assistance before it starts wrecking our lives.

I know this.

If you were terrified of flying, would it help to see the positive results of airframe, avionics and hydraulics testing of the aircraft you are traveling on?

Ignorance can be bliss.

Medical Student Syndrome is the type of hypochondria which people with too much information can suffer from.

Edit: With reference to your example it would most probably simply emphasis the terrifying list of things that can go wrong.

Hijack
My mum had chest pains
Hurt to breathe
Shortness of breath
Lightheaded
For 6 hours in pain! then she phones for an ambo...
Usual 12hrs in a and e. Ecg bloods, no 02 though.
Troponin levels were elevated, then a second check 3hrs later showed a decrease.
So sent home at 0400 with aspirin

Angina or very mild heart attack? Aged 89 and really showing het age with trouble walking, getting up, holding things etc.

Now waiting on gp referall to hurty chest clinic. I suspect the beginning of a journey that will not end well

I had to take my mother to a and e a few times with suspected heart attack. Each time she was given all clear, had a few ECG s for tracking. Twice I have been told off by doc for taking her when I should not have.

Anyway, it was anxiety, now addressed. Easy with hinsight to say avoid a n e but the symptoms are v similar, laboured breathing, shortness of breath, dizziness.

I called 111 once, described symptoms, ambo came. Other times i just took her, service was briliant, released next day.

If you were terrified of flying, would it help to see the positive results of airframe, avionics and hydraulics testing of the aircraft you are traveling on?

Probably not, you'd realise just how many bits there are and how many could potentially go wrong.

Anyway you could get a smart watch with ECG functionality: Apple Watch 7, Fitbit Sense, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, etc. Google for a more complete list.

Apple Watch.

Example output;

The BUPA Health Assessment is expensive, because you are paying not just for the ECG but for all the other services they offer as part of that assessment. A cheaper option would be to just pay privately for an ECG.

The private cost of just the ECG is relatively low (compared to £725!) - typically between £75-150. A quick google suggests there are companies that offer direct access to that service. The key question I would want to ask any provider ahead of booking is who is going to be interpreting the ECG, and how much it will cost to have the consultation pre or post that ECG to provide you with the information you need, as I assume you don't have the expertise to interpret one yourself.

I would still consider if you want to see a GP (you could always see a Private one) for a longer discussion around why you would like the tests.

Are you actually going to believe it when you get the all clear? Perhaps you are addressing the wrong problem

To be honest the very fact that you don't qualify for an NHS provided ECG should in itself provide you with a significant degree of reassurance.

IME the NHS will not hesitate to give you an ECG if there is any reason to be concerned. I would strongly focus on that fact and derive reassurance from it. An ECG now would in all likelihood not reassure you in 6 months time.

To be fair to the OP - it sounds like he's prepared to pay. Just looking for a cheaper option than £725.00!

Thousands of people pay for health-checks.

So lay off with the schoolyard pile-on routines.

Try Nuffield Health...
https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/tests-scans/electrocardiogram-ecg

I'm done here.

Don't bother posting any more answers, this thread is closed AFAIC.

Those BUPA assessments (I just looked to see what was involved) can give you targets to lower your cardiovascular risk, which is fine, but it's an expensive way to be told to eat less and exercise more 😉 . They also won't really do anything to address symptoms.

If you genuinely just want an ECG done then I'm sure most private hospitals can sell you one (+/- a medical opinion on it +/- a cardiologist appointment) for a lot less than £725.

Apart from showing up at A&E pretending to have chest pain,

Don't do that, that's a dick move.

Go see your GP,tell him you get chest pain on and off

Same.

If you have some actual symptoms, your GP can advise. If it's remotely relevant, an ECG is very quick/cheap/easy to arrange. You haven't said why you actually want an ECG, though, and it's possible it'd be completely useless or inappropriate depending on the context.

A smart watch (with proper ECG functionality) is a reasonably good shout if you are getting intermittent symptoms. But you will still need someone to interpret the results if anything is picked up.

I was going to suggest Nuffield - they usually have somewhere within travelling distance. Is OP 40 or over - us 'mature' over 50 lot get annual health checks - blood tests etc.

I had a full health check by via my employer as a one off many years ago, it included ECG. But, be wary as a fit individual can give weird ECG readings - my doc said, whilst reviewing the live trace, "If I didn't know you were fit, I'd think you were about to have a heart attack" - might not help your anxiety.

The Apple watches are pretty good, I've read of someone whose reading did warn them of heart irregularities, so they contacted the GP, and they'd had a mild heart attack.