CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Pacemakers and defibrillators
- No.1 in the UK for private cardiac care
- Five specialist cardiac hospitals across London and Birmingham
- Be seen by an expert cardiologist in as little as 24 hours
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PACEMAKERS AND DEFIBRILLATORS AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
If you have a heart issue, you want to know that you’re in safe and expert hands. At HCA UK, our skilled cardiac consultants and specialist teams have inserted over 700 pacemakers in the last three years.
If you need a pacemaker or a defibrillator to help control your heart rhythm, we’re here to help. We’re the UK’s No.1 for private cardiac care, and we’ve pioneered minimally invasive techniques that result in less pain and a quicker recovery. It’s why 99% of the 36,000 people we see for cardiac conditions every year say they’d recommend us to family and friends.
If you need a pacemaker or a defibrillator to help control your heart rhythm, we’re here to help. We’re the UK’s No.1 for private cardiac care, and we’ve pioneered minimally invasive techniques that result in less pain and a quicker recovery. It’s why 99% of the 36,000 people we see for cardiac conditions every year say they’d recommend us to family and friends.
A pacemaker is a small electronic device that monitors your heart’s rhythm and prevents it from going too slow. It sends electrical impulses that help regulate your heartbeat if it’s too slow, or if your heart’s natural pacemaker isn’t functioning properly.
Traditional pacemakers are surgically implanted in the skin under your chest and are connected to your heart with one or more wires. There are also ‘leadless’ pacemakers now, which are tiny, and implanted directly into your heart.
There are four main kinds of pacemaker:
Traditional pacemakers are surgically implanted in the skin under your chest and are connected to your heart with one or more wires. There are also ‘leadless’ pacemakers now, which are tiny, and implanted directly into your heart.
There are four main kinds of pacemaker:
- A single chamber pacemaker, which sends electrical signals to the right ventricle of your heart.
- A dual chamber pacemaker, which sends electrical signals to your upper and lower right heart chambers.
- A biventricular pacemaker, also called a cardiac resynchronisation pacemaker (CRT), which stimulates both lower heart chambers to help your heart muscle grow stronger. This can help if you have both heart failure and a slow heartbeat.
- A leadless pacemaker, which is a miniaturised device implanted via a tube in your leg to either in your right ventricle, the upper right chamber of your heart (the right atrium), or both.
A defibrillator is a device that can be surgically placed in your chest to help monitor and treat fast heart rhythms. It’s specifically called an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or ICD.
There are two main kinds of ICD:
There are two main kinds of ICD:
- A single or dual chamber ICD, with the battery (generator) implanted under your skin near your collarbone and connected to your heart with leads placed in your veins.
- An S-ICD, or subcutaneous ICD. This kind of ICD has a battery that’s placed under your left arm. The lead sits over your chest but under your skin, so that nothing is placed inside your chest.
Pacemakers are about the same size as a matchbox, while ICDs are about half the size of a deck of cards. They both contain a battery.
- A pacemaker is primarily used to treat a heart rhythm that’s too slow, by delivering low-level electrical impulses. It might be a small device connected to your heart with wires, or it might be a ‘leadless’ device that’s placed directly into the heart.
- An ICD is larger than a pacemaker and it’s primarily designed to dangerously fast heart rhythms, which can be life-threatening. It treats fast heart rhythms either by delivering a high voltage shock, or by a train of rapid paced beats. It also contains a pacemaker to stop your heart going too slowly. If you have heart failure, you can have an ICD that also has a CRT pacemaker, which together may improve the pumping of your heart.
100+
heart rhythm specialist consultants
36,000+
cardiac patients treated every year
15
diagnostic centres and five hospitals dedicated to cardiac care
Innovative treatments
See a specialist and get dedicated, expert care
State-of-the-art facilities
New techniques and technology
Rapid access
Get tests, scans and results fast
THE PACEMAKER AND DEFIBILATOR IMPLANTATION PROCESS
What to expect
If you’re experiencing heart problems, you want to know that you’re getting an accurate diagnosis, the right treatment and expert care. Our specialist cardiac teams will be with you every step of the way.
They’ll use the very latest technology and techniques to help you and ensure you’re consulted and kept informed at every stage. Your particular procedure, including the type of device you have fitted, will be a decision that you and your consultant make together, but this should give you a good idea of the process.
They’ll use the very latest technology and techniques to help you and ensure you’re consulted and kept informed at every stage. Your particular procedure, including the type of device you have fitted, will be a decision that you and your consultant make together, but this should give you a good idea of the process.
01
Initial consultation
Whether you have self-referred to us or been referred by your GP or a GP here at HCA UK, the first step will always be an initial consultation with one of our specialists. They’ll talk to you about your symptoms and discuss your overall medical history and any cardiac issues or treatment you’ve had in the past. They’ll also give you a thorough physical examination, explain the investigative diagnostic tests they think you need and arrange them for you.
02
Tests and scans
Before the procedure itself, you may need to have several tests to check your overall health and heart function. These can help your consultant to determine which kind of device you need, and the specific model and functionality that will help you best.
Those tests may include blood tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart’s electrical activity, an echocardiogram or cardiac MRI scan to assess its structure and movement, and an ECG monitor to look for abnormal heart rhythms. You’ll have access to the UK's most comprehensive cardiac diagnostics network, and the results should be ready within two working days. Your consultant will discuss these with you and take you through the next steps.
Those tests may include blood tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart’s electrical activity, an echocardiogram or cardiac MRI scan to assess its structure and movement, and an ECG monitor to look for abnormal heart rhythms. You’ll have access to the UK's most comprehensive cardiac diagnostics network, and the results should be ready within two working days. Your consultant will discuss these with you and take you through the next steps.
03
The procedure
Your device will be implanted in a specially designed cardiac catheterisation laboratory. You’ll either be given a general anaesthetic, or a local anaesthetic to numb your upper chest and sedation to make you sleepy.
Your pacemaker or defibrillator will be placed under your skin, below your collarbone and usually on the left side of your chest. It will usually be attached to a wire (or wires) passed into a vein and guided into your heart to regulate your heartbeat.
The whole procedure usually takes one to two hours.
Your pacemaker or defibrillator will be placed under your skin, below your collarbone and usually on the left side of your chest. It will usually be attached to a wire (or wires) passed into a vein and guided into your heart to regulate your heartbeat.
The whole procedure usually takes one to two hours.
04
Aftercare and monitoring
It’s a short, minimally invasive procedure, but you need to be carefully monitored afterwards. You may need to stay in hospital overnight, but most people can go home the same day. It’s important to arrange for someone to travel home with you afterwards to make sure you’re safe, and you should rest for at least a week after the procedure.
Your consultant will talk through your procedure and recovery with you and let you know when you can get back to your usual routine and activities. They’ll also give you advice on medication, driving, exercise, travel, diet and alcohol. You can find out more in the FAQ section below.
Your consultant will talk through your procedure and recovery with you and let you know when you can get back to your usual routine and activities. They’ll also give you advice on medication, driving, exercise, travel, diet and alcohol. You can find out more in the FAQ section below.
Our locations
Where can I get a pacemaker or defibrillator fitted?
Depending on your specific diagnosis, you can access HCA UK’s specialist pacemaker and defibrillator services in our exceptional hospitals in London and Birmingham. You’ll be cared for by leading experts at every stage.
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place St John's Wood NW8 9LE London
The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2TQ Birmingham
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
Pacemaker and defibrillator FAQs
Your consultant will talk to you in detail about your specific procedure and how you can fully prepare. If you’re taking any medication, it’s important to let us know, because you may need to stop taking it before one of your tests, or the procedure itself. You’ll be asked to stop eating and drinking a few hours before the procedure itself.
You may need to stay overnight, so pack what you’ll need for the stay, and please also make sure that you’ve arranged to have someone travel home with you afterwards.
You may need to stay overnight, so pack what you’ll need for the stay, and please also make sure that you’ve arranged to have someone travel home with you afterwards.
Like all surgical procedures, there are potential risks and side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these to you and answer any questions you have.
If you’ve had a pacemaker fitted, you shouldn’t drive for at least a week afterwards. If you’ve had a defibrillator fitted, you should avoid driving for at least a month, and for as long as six months in some cases.
Your consultant will discuss your specific condition with you in detail. You must always inform the DVLA and your driving and travel insurers if you have either a pacemaker or defibrillator fitted.
Your consultant will discuss your specific condition with you in detail. You must always inform the DVLA and your driving and travel insurers if you have either a pacemaker or defibrillator fitted.
Cardiac arrhythmia is when there’s something wrong with the electrical signals that control your heart’s rhythm. It can make your heart beat irregularly or go too fast or too slow.
Many people with heart arrhythmias lead normal lives. However, some need close monitoring and treatment. That can involve taking medication, making positive lifestyle changes or having a procedure, such as implantation of a pacemaker or defibrillator, or by having catheter ablation.
If you have any concerns about your heart, it’s best to get it checked out. Please speak to one of our specialists.
Many people with heart arrhythmias lead normal lives. However, some need close monitoring and treatment. That can involve taking medication, making positive lifestyle changes or having a procedure, such as implantation of a pacemaker or defibrillator, or by having catheter ablation.
If you have any concerns about your heart, it’s best to get it checked out. Please speak to one of our specialists.
Our patients’ stories
Tod's story
For Tod, 59, an investment banker with 37 years’ experience working in the city, there was nothing to suggest that there was anything wrong with his health. Incredibly active and cycling 30 miles daily each way on his commute, it was only when he went for a health check that something alarming appeared.
Treating Helaina's heart rhythm disorder
Helaina from Northamptonshire was just 16 when she began experiencing unusual symptoms, including shortness of breath and heart palpitations, which rapidly worsened. She was otherwise fit, healthy and a huge lover of the great outdoors, leading to her family to grow concerned.
Andrew's atrial fibrillation story
"I immediately felt something was not right and stopped swimming. I didn’t have pain, but had palpitations and a shortness of breath. After a while, my heart settled down."
“The wound settled down very quickly after being discharged. There’s only a very small scar. I can feel the pacemaker if I touch my chest, but it’s been fine, and all has been going well. I’ve had two pacing checks since having the CSP implanted, and my rhythm has much improved. I feel great and overall, very grateful.”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.