Community Cardiology services in South East London

A 12-lead ECG is a simple, painless test used to check the rate and rhythm of your heart. It helps identify signs of heart conditions by recording the electrical activity of your heart.

What to expect during the test

• A trained cardiographer will place 10 small electrodes (similar to stickers) on your body—six on your chest, and one on each arm and leg.
• You’ll be asked to relax and stay still while the ECG is recorded.
• The test usually takes around one minute.
• You will need to remove clothing from your upper body, and a gown will be provided for your comfort and privacy.

What to expect after the test

• Your ECG will be securely uploaded and reviewed by a Cardiac Physiologist.
• If the results show anything that could be an immediate risk to your health, we will call an ambulance to take you to hospital. While you may choose to decline, you will need to sign a waiver confirming this decision.
• If no urgent issues are detected, the results will be sent to your GP, who will discuss them with you and advise on any next steps.

The British Heart Foundation has created a short video explaining ECGs and what to expect:
Understanding an ECG. They also offer tips on how to keep your heart healthy.

How long will an ECG take?

The whole test takes a few minutes and is completely painless. You will need to lie still as moving can affect the results.

When is an ECG used?

An ECG is often used alongside other tests to help diagnose and monitor conditions affecting the heart.

What can an ECG show?

An ECG can help detect problems with your heart rate or heart rhythm. It can help doctors tell if you’re having a heart attack or if you’ve had a heart attack in the past.

An ECG is usually one of the first heart tests you will have. It does have some limitations, so often you will have one or more other tests too. An abnormal ECG reading doesn’t always mean there is something wrong with your heart.

How do I prepare for the test?

You don’t need to do anything special to prepare for the test – you can take all your medication as normal. You can eat and drink as normal. However, we do ask you refrain from placing moisturiser on your skin on the morning of the test. The reason for this is, it interferes with how well our electrodes stick to your skin making the ECG poorer in quality.

Before the electrodes are attached, you will usually need to remove clothing from your top half, and your chest will be wiped with an alcohol wipe. This is to remove any oils from the surface of your skin

If you have hair on your chest we may need to shave your chest.

Once the electrodes are in place, you will be offered a gown or paper towel to cover yourself.

An Ambulatory ECG monitors your heart’s rate and rhythm over a specified period. During your clinic visit, three electrodes (similar to sticky plasters) will be placed on your chest and connected to a portable ECG monitor. These electrodes detect the electrical signals from your heart, which are then recorded by the monitor. The monitor can be clipped to your belt or worn around your neck.

What to expect during the test

• You will need to wear the monitor for the entire recording period, as advised by the cardiographer.
  While wearing the monitor, avoid bathing or showering, but continue with your daily activities as usual.
• You will be asked to complete a symptom diary while wearing the monitor. This should include the time and a description of any symptoms you experience during the recording period, as well as any activities that may cause heart rate fluctuations, such as exercise or sleep.

What to expect after the test

• Once the recording period is over, it is crucial to return the monitor at the specified location and time given to you by the cardiographer. Failure to do so may prevent another patient from having their test performed.
• Your GP will review the results with you and discuss any necessary next steps.

The British Heart Foundation has created short video explaining the procedure: Understanding an ECG and also has further information on their website about ECGS https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/tests/ecg and also how to keep your heart healthy www.bhf.org.uk.

How long will it take?

The ECG monitor will take around 10 minutes to fit but you will be asked to wear the monitor home and keep it attached for the indicated time ( usually 24, 4.

What should I do whilst wearing the monitor?

You will be asked to carry on with your normal day to day activities whilst wearing the monitor. However, you will not be able to have a bath or shower as the monitor is not waterproof. If you are wearing the monitor for more than 48 hours, you will be shown how to remove and reattached the monitor at your appointment to allow for a bath or shower. You will be asked to keep a diary of any symptoms and activities such as exercise and when you go to bed and wake up again.

Please handle the monitor with care throughout the monitoring period. Avoid exposing it to water, extreme temperatures, or physical damage. In the unfortunate event that the monitor is lost or damaged, please contact our team immediately at the same number. Promptly reporting the issue to us will allow us to take necessary steps to address the situation and minimize any inconvenience.

How do I remove the monitor?

During the appointment to have the monitor fitted, the staff member will provide you with clear instructions on how to remove the monitor before returning it to the practice.

To remove the monitor, simply peel the adhesive electrodes from your skin. Once removed, place the monitor into the provided envelope along with your diary card. This ensures that the monitor and your recorded data are safely returned for analysis.

How do I return the Ambulatory ECG Monitor?

The staff member will inform you of the specific time and location for returning the monitor. It is crucial to adhere to this schedule, as failing to return the monitor on time may result in the cancellation of another patient’s appointment. If you are unable to return the monitor yourself, a friend or family member may do so on your behalf. Should you anticipate any difficulties in returning the monitor, please contact our team at 020 7713 2756, selecting option 2 for cardiology.

In the unfortunate event that the monitor is lost, please contact our team immediately at the same number. Promptly reporting the loss will allow us to take necessary steps to address the situation and minimise any inconvenience.

Are there any risks or side effects?

An Ambulatory ECG is a quick, safe, and painless test. No electricity is put into your body while it’s carried out.

There may be some slight discomfort when the electrodes are removed from your skin – like removing a sticking plaster – and some people may develop a mild rash where the electrodes were attached. If you are experiencing discomfort, please reach out to our team on 020 7713 2756, selecting option 2 for cardiology.

• During your appointment, one of our cardiographers will fit a small blood pressure monitor to you. This monitor will stay with you for approximately 24 hours, taking readings at regular intervals—every 30 minutes during the day and every hour at night.
• A blood pressure cuff will be attached to your non-dominant arm and connected to the monitor, which will be secured around your waist with a belt. The healthcare professional will ensure the monitor is working correctly by taking an initial reading. You will also receive an ‘Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor’ diary to record any symptoms, your sleep times, and any exercise you do.
• The cuff will tighten when taking readings, which may feel uncomfortable but should not be painful. If you have concerns about the tightness, please contact our team at 020 7713 2756, option 2 for cardiology. The monitor operates automatically, so you do not need to press any buttons.
• While the monitor is taking a reading, please keep your arm down by your side and remain as still as possible. If the monitor struggles to take a reading, it will try again after 30 minutes.
• Please avoid showering or bathing with the monitor, as it is not waterproof.
• Your GP will discuss the results with you and any action that needs to be taken.

Learn more about blood pressure by visiting the British Heart Foundations website:

Heart health questions, information and support – BHF

How do I return the monitor?

The staff member will inform you of the specific time and location for returning the monitor. It is crucial to adhere to this schedule, as failing to return the monitor on time may result in the cancellation of another patient’s appointment. If you are unable to return the monitor yourself, a friend or family member may do so on your behalf. Should you anticipate any difficulties in returning the monitor, please contact our team at 020 7713 2756, selecting option 2 for cardiology.

In the unfortunate event that the monitor is lost, please contact our team immediately at the same number. Promptly reporting the loss will allow us to take necessary steps to address the situation and minimise any inconvenience.

When your monitor is returned to the practice, the results will be downloaded and the returned to your GP who will review the results and be able to share them with you.

What if the monitor is causing me pain?

The cuff will tighten when taking readings, which may feel uncomfortable but should not be painful. If you have concerns about the tightness, please contact our team at 020 7713 2756, option 2 for cardiology. Please feel free to remove the cuff from your arm whilst contacting our team.

• You will be given an appointment at one of our GP practices to collect a blood pressure monitor to take home for one week, during this appointment you will be shown how to use the monitor.
• You will be asked to make recordings throughout the day for that week and record them in a diary you will also be given at the above appointment.
• You will be asked to return the monitor and diary at a set time to the practice you collected it from.
• The data you have collected will be averaged and then uploaded and sent to your GP for review.
• Your GP will discuss the results with you and any action that needs to be taken.

We rent space within local GP practices. Each practice reception will have a list of patients due to see our team each day. The practice receptionists will check off your name from their list and then ask you to take a seat in the waiting area. Our cardiographer (dressed in blue scrubs with the Xyla logo) will come and call you from the waiting area. Sometimes our appointments do over run due to unforeseen circumstances, and we do sincerely apologise for any delays.

If you have any concerns about your appointment or have been delayed for more than 15 minutes, please contact our team at 020 7713 2756 option 2 for cardiology who will be happy to assist you.