For Referrers

For Consultant Cardiologists

Nene Valley Diagnostics provides high-quality echocardiography services for your insured patients at Northampton General Hospital.

How to Refer Insured Patients

If you are a consultant cardiologist recognised by major UK insurers and wish to refer your insured patients to Nene Valley Diagnostics:

Contact us to discuss referral arrangements and availability
Arrange insurance authorisation for the echocardiogram, if required by the patient's insurer
Refer your patient to Nene Valley Diagnostics for their echocardiogram
Receive the detailed report directly for your review and discussion with the patient

Equipment and Facilities

All echocardiograms are performed using Philips EPIQ echocardiography systems – hospital-grade equipment used in major cardiac centres. Scans are performed inside Northampton General Hospital, ensuring:

Superior image quality and diagnostic clarity
Comprehensive assessment capabilities including 3D/4D echocardiography – all scans include 3D/4D images, and we are the only local provider offering this service as standard
Professional clinical environment with optimal patient comfort
Immediate access to hospital facilities if needed

Reporting Standards

All echocardiograms are performed by our experienced registered clinical scientist. Reports include:

Comprehensive measurements and calculations
Detailed assessment of all cardiac structures
Clear interpretation and clinical correlation
High-quality images for your records
Rapid turnaround for urgent cases

Reports are sent directly to you for your review and discussion with the patient. Any urgent findings are escalated immediately via hospital pathways.

Benefits for Your Patients

Hospital-based testing at Northampton General Hospital
High-quality imaging using Philips EPIQ systems
Experienced clinical team
Rapid escalation if needed
Convenient location for Northamptonshire patients

For GPs

Nene Valley Diagnostics offers self-referral echocardiograms, but we can work with GPs to ensure continuity of care for your patients.

Self-Referral Available

Patients can book echocardiograms directly with Nene Valley Diagnostics without requiring a GP referral. This provides faster access and convenience for patients who need cardiac assessment.

Receiving Reports

With patient consent, we can share echocardiogram reports directly with you, ensuring:

Continuity of care for your patients
Integration with existing medical records
Informed follow-up and management decisions
Complete patient care coordination

Patients are asked during booking whether they consent to their report being shared with their GP. If consent is given, reports are sent directly to your practice.

Advantage of Hospital-Based Testing

All Nene Valley Diagnostics echocardiograms are performed inside Northampton General Hospital, which offers important advantages:

Rapid escalation – Any urgent or unexpected findings can be immediately escalated to hospital cardiology specialists without delay
Hospital facilities – Full access to hospital infrastructure and specialist teams if needed
Report in hospital system – Patient images and reports are in the hospital system, easy to compare with the next visits, available if they have an unfortunate visit to A&E, an inpatient stay, or simply an outpatient visit. This ensures hospital staff have immediate access to the cardiac assessment when needed
Seamless care pathways – Direct integration with hospital cardiology services ensures continuity of care
High-quality imaging – Hospital-grade Philips EPIQ systems ensure superior diagnostic clarity

This hospital-based approach provides reassurance that any concerns identified during the scan will be addressed immediately and appropriately, with seamless integration into hospital care pathways if required.

When to Recommend Nene Valley Diagnostics

You may wish to recommend Nene Valley Diagnostics to patients who:

Need an echocardiogram but face long NHS waiting times
Prefer private healthcare for faster access
Want a second opinion or follow-up scan
Are athletes requiring specialist cardiac screening
Need convenient access to high-quality cardiac diagnostics

Patients can book directly through our online booking form or by contacting us. We will share reports with you with patient consent.