Direct Access Echocardiography

Click here for the form

 

Aim:

To provide GPs with an Echocardiography service that can be accessed without the need for a prior cardiology outpatient appointment. 
 

Inclusions:

New Murmurs

Assessment for structural heart disease in atrial fibrillation

Hypertension where structural heart disease is suspected eg LVH

Heart failure scheduled reassessment

Valvular disease reassessment

 

Exclusions:

If the result would not change the management please consider appropriateness of the test.

Suspected diagnoses of heart failure - please refer via the heart failure service.

Echocardiography is not indicated in the following conditions unless there additional evidence of structural heart disease (Eg on history/exam/ECG/CXR

• Dizziness/Presyncope    
• Atypical Chest Pain      
• Hypertension
• Palpitations not suggestive of signifcant arrhythmia
• Infrequent  ectopics
• Asymptomatic sinus bradycardia

How To Refer:

Ensure appropriateness of request by checking on list of exclusions (see above)

Complete all sections of Direct Access Echocardiography request form available here

Attach ECG (from within 3 months)

Request via Choose and book to RMS

Patients will be contacted for appointment with one of 5 providers - further details below)

 

Direct Access Echocardiography Providers:

Echogenicity- echo + consultant cardiologist’s summary/advice

Ultracardiac (Plymouth) - echo without advice     

Plymouth Health Care Trust – echo without advice

Royal Cornwall Hospitals trust- echo without advice

 

 

Date reviewed                     05/07/2021

Next review due                  05/07/2022

Sifter name                         Elizabeth Fell / Bridgitte Wesson

Contributors                        Dr Louise Melley – Assistant Specialist Cardiology RCHT

 

Version 4.1