Telephone follow-up for heart monitoring : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

This page explains how our telephone follow-up for heart monitoring works and what to expect during your appointment.

What is the telephone follow-up for heart monitoring?

This is a phone appointment with a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) about three to four weeks after your heart scan (called an echocardiogram or ‘echo’). With this appointment, you will not need to travel to hospital. You will also have more options for scheduling your echo.

During the phone call, the CNS will talk to you about your results and advise you about next steps and future follow-up. You will also have the chance to ask about any treatment-related issues, and talk about your general health and wellbeing.

How does the telephone clinic work?

First, you will get an appointment letter for an echocardiogram at University College London Hospitals (UCLH). Around that time, you will also receive another letter with the date and time for your telephone follow-up appointment.

On the day of your telephone appointment, please have your phone on and be ready to answer around the scheduled time. The call will come from a withheld or unknown number, so it may not display a caller ID. We can’t leave a voicemail, and we need to speak directly with you, not with a family member or friend. This it to keep your information private.

If you receive a letter for your echocardiogram, but do not receive a letter for your phone appointment, please call the late effects service coordinator on 020 3447 5536.

Can I come to the clinic in person if I prefer?

Yes, if you would rather have a face-to-face appointment instead of a phone appointment, we can set that up. Just call the late effects service coordinator to book an in-person visit.

Please keep in mind that our clinics are often busy, so you may have to wait longer for a face-to-face appointment than a phone appointment.

What is an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram is a heart scan that uses sound waves to see how well your heart is working. It is safe and most people find it comfortable. There are no known risks or side effects of having an echocardiogram.

Why do I need an echocardiogram?

There is a small chance that your past treatment – such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or both – may have affected your heart. Regular echocardiograms help us check for any issues.

We recommend routine echocardiograms every two to five years. This will depend on your previous treatments and if everything stays stable.

Who will interpret the results of my echocardiogram?

An experienced cardiac physiologist, a specialist in reading echocardiograms, will review your test results and write a report. The CNS will then share the results with you during your phone appointment.

What will happen if my results are abnormal?

If any issues are found, we will share your results with a consultant cardiologist (heart specialist) for further review. If needed, you may have an appointment with the cardiologist to discuss the next steps.