Frequently asked questions
What is a Cardiologist?
A Cardiologist is a doctor who specializes is problems relating to the heart. A cardiologist has special training and skill in finding, treating and preventing diseases of the heart. This field includes coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology.
Why use private healthcare?
Although the NHS is a great way of getting the right treatment at no cost it does have some disadvantages. By paying to see a specialist privately, whether you have health insurance or not, you can jump long NHS waiting lists and see a specialist within a few days as opposed to weeks or months. You are guaranteed to see your consultant rather than a junior doctor and you generally have longer in the consultation to discuss your problems. It can save weeks of worry if you have symptoms that you want looking at by a specialist who can arrange all the necessary tests quickly and get a diagnosis and treatment in a much quicker time.
What is an Electrophysiologist?
Cardiac electrophysiologists focus on your heart's timing, or electrical system and on diagnosing and treating abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmias. Electrophysiologists are qualified to perform special tests and procedures for your heart's electrical system, such as an electrophysiology study or an ablation. Dr Boullin has over 15 years experience in cardiology and over 10 years experience as an electrophysiologist performing catheter ablation and implantation of cardiac devices.
What are palpitations?
Palpitations is the term used to describe the awareness of your heart beat. It can be used for many different sensations such as extra beats, pauses, fast, slow and irrregular heart beats. Sometimes palpitations relate to the normal heart rhythm, but can also be caused by heart rhythm changes - arrhythmias.
What is atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib)?
Atrial fibrillation is the commonest heart rhythm problem, and becomes increasingly common as we age. In AF the heart rate is irregular and can sometimes be much faster than usual. In some cases, it can be considerably higher than 100 beats a minute.
You may be aware of palpitations where your heart feels like it's pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly. This can come and go (paroxysmal AF) and vary in length from seconds to a number of days, but sometimes AF is “persistent” and the heart will continue in this rhythm for the long-term.
It can cause many other symptoms including tiredness, shortness of breath and dizziness. However, there are also people that have no symptoms at all from AF and can be completely unaware of it.
How much does private treatment cost?
Private insurers will usually cover the costs of treatment though this will depend on the level of your cover. Pre-authorisation can be sort in advance of treatment to guarantee this. Some insurers have pre-arranged doctor fees for example Dr Boullin is "fee assured" with BUPA and "fee approved" with AXA meaning that eligible treatment will be fully covered under the terms of ones policy. Dr Boullin has set charges for self-funding patients which are available from Georgina his secretary and if you are unsure about any costs please do ask.
A Cardiologist is a doctor who specializes is problems relating to the heart. A cardiologist has special training and skill in finding, treating and preventing diseases of the heart. This field includes coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology.
Why use private healthcare?
Although the NHS is a great way of getting the right treatment at no cost it does have some disadvantages. By paying to see a specialist privately, whether you have health insurance or not, you can jump long NHS waiting lists and see a specialist within a few days as opposed to weeks or months. You are guaranteed to see your consultant rather than a junior doctor and you generally have longer in the consultation to discuss your problems. It can save weeks of worry if you have symptoms that you want looking at by a specialist who can arrange all the necessary tests quickly and get a diagnosis and treatment in a much quicker time.
What is an Electrophysiologist?
Cardiac electrophysiologists focus on your heart's timing, or electrical system and on diagnosing and treating abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmias. Electrophysiologists are qualified to perform special tests and procedures for your heart's electrical system, such as an electrophysiology study or an ablation. Dr Boullin has over 15 years experience in cardiology and over 10 years experience as an electrophysiologist performing catheter ablation and implantation of cardiac devices.
What are palpitations?
Palpitations is the term used to describe the awareness of your heart beat. It can be used for many different sensations such as extra beats, pauses, fast, slow and irrregular heart beats. Sometimes palpitations relate to the normal heart rhythm, but can also be caused by heart rhythm changes - arrhythmias.
What is atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib)?
Atrial fibrillation is the commonest heart rhythm problem, and becomes increasingly common as we age. In AF the heart rate is irregular and can sometimes be much faster than usual. In some cases, it can be considerably higher than 100 beats a minute.
You may be aware of palpitations where your heart feels like it's pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly. This can come and go (paroxysmal AF) and vary in length from seconds to a number of days, but sometimes AF is “persistent” and the heart will continue in this rhythm for the long-term.
It can cause many other symptoms including tiredness, shortness of breath and dizziness. However, there are also people that have no symptoms at all from AF and can be completely unaware of it.
How much does private treatment cost?
Private insurers will usually cover the costs of treatment though this will depend on the level of your cover. Pre-authorisation can be sort in advance of treatment to guarantee this. Some insurers have pre-arranged doctor fees for example Dr Boullin is "fee assured" with BUPA and "fee approved" with AXA meaning that eligible treatment will be fully covered under the terms of ones policy. Dr Boullin has set charges for self-funding patients which are available from Georgina his secretary and if you are unsure about any costs please do ask.
