AI Receptionist for private cardiology practices
Cardiac symptoms are urgent. Be the cardiologist's practice that always picks up.
AI receptionist for private cardiology practices: Ava triages palpitations, chest pain and breathlessness, captures GP referral details and investigation history, and books the cardiology consultation — with 999 safety-netting for active symptoms.
A private cardiology consultation with investigations generates £600–£2,000 in initial fees. A complex case — heart failure, arrhythmia, valve disease — generates £5,000–£15,000 in annual management. A missed referral call loses both, and the patient may default to an NHS waiting list instead.
The short answer
The problem
A GP refers a patient with palpitations and a borderline ECG. The patient calls your practice. They're anxious. If the call goes unanswered or to voicemail, they may escalate to A&E — or simply not pursue private cardiology at all, becoming an NHS waiting list statistic.
What Ava does
Ava answers every cardiology enquiry with appropriate seriousness, triages whether symptoms are ongoing or intermittent, captures GP referral details, and books the consultation — converting anxious referrals into confirmed appointments.
A private cardiology consultation with investigations (ECG, echo, 24hr tape): £600–£2,000. A complex case requiring ongoing management: £5,000–£15,000/year.
How does Ava triage a cardiology call without overstepping?
Ava asks two clinical questions: what is the symptom, and is it happening now or intermittent? A patient with intermittent palpitations and a normal resting ECG gets a consultation within one to two weeks. A patient describing ongoing chest pain radiating to the left arm gets an immediate advisory to call 999 rather than a private appointment booking. The distinction is clear and consistent.
Cardiology triage has a sharper safety threshold than most private medicine booking contexts. The consequences of under-triaging an active cardiac symptom — scheduling a consultation for a patient who is having an MI — are severe. Ava's safety netting is explicit and non-negotiable: for active symptoms suggesting an acute coronary syndrome, she advises 999 before any booking discussion.
For intermittent symptoms — palpitations that come and go, breathlessness on exertion but not at rest, occasional pre-syncope — Ava captures the frequency and character, notes any existing investigation results, and books the appropriate urgency tier. A patient with known AF on anti-arrhythmic medication asking for a medication review gets a different urgency classification from a patient who has never been assessed.
GP referral details are particularly important in cardiology. A GP who has referred urgently with a covering letter describing a borderline ECG and exertional chest pain is sending a different signal from one who has made a routine referral for palpitations in a 35-year-old with a completely normal workup. Ava captures the referral urgency and the investigation history so your cardiologist sees the GP's clinical opinion before the consultation.
How does Ava capture investigation history for the cardiologist?
Ava asks whether the patient has had a 12-lead ECG and what the result was, any previous echocardiograms, 24-hour or 7-day ambulatory monitoring, exercise stress testing, or CT coronary angiogram. She asks whether copies are available to bring to the appointment. Your cardiologist reviews existing imaging before ordering repeats — saving the patient cost and the appointment time.
Investigation duplication is one of the most common inefficiencies in private cardiology referrals. A patient who has had a 24-hour tape at their GP practice or at a previous private cardiologist, with the result available, should not have the monitoring repeated at the consultation. Ava asks specifically what has been done and what is available, so your cardiologist can review the existing data rather than starting from scratch.
For pacemaker and ICD patients, the device history is clinically significant. Ava captures the device type (pacemaker, ICD, CRT-D, loop recorder), the manufacturer (Medtronic, Abbott, Boston Scientific), the implanting centre, and any symptoms that may indicate a device-related issue — battery depletion, inappropriate shock, lead failure. That information changes what your cardiologist needs to do at the appointment.
Echocardiogram results in the patient's possession — whether from an NHS investigation or a previous private consultation — should accompany them to the appointment. Ava tells the patient what to bring. A cardiologist who arrives at a valve disease consultation with the patient's last three echo reports can track progression rather than establishing a baseline.
Why does a missed cardiology referral call cost more than one consultation?
A private cardiology patient referred for palpitations may turn out to have AF, heart failure, or structural valve disease requiring years of management. The initial consultation fee of £600–£2,000 is the entry point to a relationship worth £5,000–£15,000 annually. A missed referral call loses not the appointment but the management relationship — and the patient defaults to the NHS waiting list.
Cardiology case complexity follows a pattern: the referral reason understates the clinical picture. A patient referred for palpitations may have paroxysmal AF requiring anticoagulation, rhythm monitoring, and potentially ablation. A patient with exertional breathlessness may have severe aortic stenosis requiring valve replacement planning. The initial consultation unlocks the full clinical and commercial relationship.
NHS cardiology waiting times in 2024–2025 are measured in months for many investigations. A patient who cannot get through to a private cardiologist's phone will often join the NHS waiting list rather than trying again — defaulting to a pathway where they wait six months for an echo that you could have arranged within two weeks. The missed call loses both the immediate revenue and the patient's private pathway.
Ava converts the anxious GP-referred patient — who is already motivated to seek a prompt appointment — into a confirmed consultation. The caller who reaches a professional, promptly answered line that captures their symptom and GP details and offers a Wednesday appointment is far more likely to attend than one who has heard a voicemail and been left to navigate the callback process while managing their anxiety about a possible cardiac condition.
£5,000–£15,000
Annual management revenue from a complex cardiac case — arrhythmia, heart failure, valve disease
UK private cardiology industry estimate
£600–£2,000
Initial consultation and investigation revenue from a new private cardiology referral
UK private cardiology industry estimate
999
The number Ava advises for active chest pain or acute symptoms — before any private booking is made
avacallai safety protocol
The difference
Voicemail takes a message. Ava books the appointment.
What callers ring about
Every cardiology call, handled.
- Palpitation and arrhythmia consultation bookings
- Chest pain and breathlessness referral calls
- Echocardiogram and monitoring requests
- Heart failure and valve disease management calls
Hear it in action
This is what your callers hear.
- Good morning, Cardiac Care Private — how can I help?
- My GP has referred me to a cardiologist. I've been getting palpitations and my ECG showed something irregular.
- Of course — we can see you promptly given those symptoms. Are the palpitations still happening now, or are they intermittent?
- Intermittent. Happens a few times a week.
- Understood. I'll book you with our consultant cardiologist — I have an appointment on Wednesday. We can arrange an ECG and may fit a 7-day heart monitor at the same visit.
Before you choose
What to look for in an AI receptionist for cardiology.
Active symptom safety-netting built in
The AI must advise callers with active chest pain, acute breathlessness, or syncope to call 999 rather than booking a private appointment. Test this specifically — ask it to handle a caller describing chest pain radiating to the arm. Any response that books a private consultation is clinically unacceptable.
Investigation history captured in the booking call
Your cardiologist needs to know what ECGs, echos, and monitoring have already been done before the appointment. The AI should ask specifically and capture what is available rather than leaving your secretary to chase records on the day.
GP referral urgency classification
A GP who has marked a referral urgent is sending a clinical signal that should shape the appointment slot offered. The AI must capture referral urgency and offer the appropriate tier — not a standard next-available slot regardless of clinical context.
Device history for pacemaker and ICD patients
Cardiology device patients require specific intake information — device type, manufacturer, implanting centre, symptoms. The AI should ask for these specifically rather than treating a device check as a standard cardiology consultation enquiry.
Common questions
Everything you’re wondering.
Can Ava triage between urgent and routine cardiac symptoms?
Yes. Ava asks about symptom type (palpitations, chest pain, breathlessness, syncope), frequency, and whether symptoms are ongoing — flagging active symptoms for immediate clinical review.
Can Ava handle GP referral calls for cardiology?
Yes. Ava captures the referring GP's details, the patient's symptoms and investigations to date, and whether the referral is urgent or routine — giving your cardiologist a pre-consultation brief.
What investigations does Ava capture requests for?
ECG, echocardiogram, 24-hour/7-day cardiac monitoring, exercise stress testing, CT coronary angiogram — Ava captures the referring clinician's investigation requests and books accordingly.
Can Ava handle calls about heart failure and valve disease monitoring?
Yes. Ava manages ongoing monitoring appointment bookings for established patients — reducing the administrative burden on your cardiology secretaries.
What does Ava do if a caller describes symptoms that may be a cardiac emergency?
For active chest pain radiating to the arm or jaw, severe breathlessness at rest, or loss of consciousness — Ava advises the caller to call 999 immediately rather than attending a private appointment. She does not book a private consultation as a substitute for emergency care.
Can Ava handle calls from patients with a known arrhythmia asking about device checks?
Yes. Patients with pacemakers, ICDs or loop recorders asking about remote monitoring or in-person device checks can book through Ava, who captures the device type and manufacturer, the implanting centre, and any symptoms that may indicate a device-related issue.
Does Ava capture enough investigation history for the cardiologist to prepare?
Yes. Ava asks whether the patient has had a recent 12-lead ECG and what it showed, any previous echocardiograms, 24-hour tapes, or stress tests — and whether copies are available. That context means your cardiologist can review existing imaging before the appointment rather than requesting repeats.
Does Ava integrate with private cardiology practice software?
Yes. Consultations write into Semble, Heydoc or Cliniko with symptom type, investigation history, referring GP and urgency classification, so your cardiologist opens the appointment with a clinically relevant brief.
Pricing
Ava pays for herself on call one.
A private cardiology consultation with investigations (ECG, echo, 24hr tape): £600–£2,000. A complex case requiring ongoing management: £5,000–£15,000/year. Plans from £397/mo. One recovered job a month covers it — everything else is pure upside.
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