Chest Pain
Chest pain has many causes — cardiac and non-cardiac — and working out which is which is the most important step. The majority of chest pain assessed in a private cardiology clinic is musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal or anxiety-related rather than heart disease. But cardiac causes must be ruled out systematically, not assumed away. At The Vesey we take a structured history, perform a same-visit ECG, and use a selective investigation pathway to reach a clear answer — most patients leave their first appointment knowing what is and is not causing their pain. If you have central chest pain at rest right now, call 999. If your pain has passed and you want it properly investigated, book below.
What it is
New-onset chest pain always warrants explanation, not reassurance alone. Our cardiology team takes a structured history, examines you, and runs a same-visit 12-lead ECG. Where indicated, echocardiogram, exercise tolerance test, 24-hour Holter or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, CT coronary angiography and high-sensitivity troponin can all be arranged within 7–14 days through our partner imaging centres.
Symptoms and signs
- Central crushing or tight chest pain, particularly on exertion, with radiation to jaw, arm or back.
- Sharp, well-localised chest pain worse on breathing or movement (musculoskeletal or pleuritic).
- Burning chest pain after meals, worse lying down (gastro-oesophageal reflux).
- Episodic palpitations with chest discomfort.
- Chest pain at rest with shortness of breath, nausea or sweating — this is a 999 call, not a private appointment.
How we investigate
Same-visit 12-lead ECG and clinical examination by your consultant. Onward investigations selected from: high-sensitivity troponin, echocardiogram, exercise tolerance test, 24-hour Holter monitor, ambulatory blood pressure, CT coronary calcium score, CT coronary angiography. All results interpreted and discussed by your consultant.
Treatment options at The Vesey
- Structured cardiovascular risk stratification — Q-Risk, lipid profile, HbA1c, blood pressure and lifestyle review.
- Reassurance with documented evidence — most patients we see do not have heart disease, and a normal workup is itself a clinically important outcome.
- Medical management of stable angina — antiplatelet, statin, beta-blocker or calcium channel blocker, with regular consultant review.
- Onward referral for revascularisation — direct consultant-to-consultant transfer to interventional cardiology where the workup identifies significant disease.
- Non-cardiac cause pathway — onward signposting to gastroenterology, respiratory, MSK or pain medicine where appropriate.
Book an appointment
When to see a specialist
Book a private cardiology consultation if you have had unexplained chest pain for more than 48 hours, recurrent chest pain on exertion, a strong family history of premature heart disease, or you have been told "it's probably not your heart" without a structured workup. If you are having central chest pain at rest now, call 999.
Cost and pathway
Initial consultant cardiology consultation £260 (resting 12-lead ECG £50). Echocardiogram from £320. 24-hour Holter monitor from £290. CT coronary calcium score from £450. Self-pay and insurance accepted (BUPA, Vitality, AXA, WPA, Cigna, Aviva, Healix).
- Open 7 days including Sundays — 8am to 8pm, no weekend surcharge
- No GP referral required — book directly with our consultant cardiology team
- Sutton Coldfield location — serving Birmingham, Walsall, Tamworth, Lichfield and the West Midlands
- CQC-regulated — rated 4.88/5 on Doctify from 700+ verified reviews
View our cardiology services →
Sutton Coldfield · Birmingham · Walsall · Tamworth · Lichfield · West Midlands · Open 7 days 8am–8pm
Open 7 days · 8am–8pm · 0121 387 3727