All initial outpatient appointments are seen personally by Dr Giardini and last approximately 40 minutes.

The appointment will involve a brief relevant general examination and a detailed examination of the heart, looking at the chest shape, pulsations from the heart, assessing by touch to see if any of the abnormal heart sounds cause vibrations, and finally auscultation, which is listening of the chest over the heart and lungs with a stethoscope. Babies and infants, can easily be distracted to achieve this. Toddlers  may need specific distraction with toys or electronic devices.

Dr Giardini will personally perform an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram, as required on a patient-to-patient basis. Dr Giardini will report them during your consultation and he will clearly explain the findings. This ensures that a preliminary discussion regarding the possible diagnosis can be had with you during the consultation so you can leave the consultation room with some clarity and structured plan if required. Further investigations will then be arranged as required.

Dr Giardini has extensive experience in ensuring children are relaxed and they leave having a positive experience from the appointment, as highlighted by the feedback he receives. Dr. Giardini at the same time ensures families are made to feel as comfortable and reassured as possible throughout the consultation, diagnosis and treatment. Certain measurements such as height, weight, pulse or heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturations are likely to be measured based on the individual patient.

Please click here to show your child a video of what happens on Dr. Giardini (Dr. G) office.

All the institutions provide world-class private healthcare for children under 18 in a warm, clean and safe environment. All medical care and surgery provided by Dr Giardini with access to the most highly advanced medical technology and the best multidisciplinary team (MDT) members including Cardiac Surgeons, Anaesthesiologists, Paediatric Electrophysiologists,  and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit specialists. If an admission is required Dr. Giardini will arrange it in a timely manner and will direct and supervise the care delivered by reviewing your child on a daily basis until discharge.

Once your child turns 18 years old Dr. Giardini will arrange appropriate transfer of care to an adult congental cardiac centre where the same level of quality will be provided.

A referral from the GP or a Paediatrician is often required by Private Medical Insurances as a requirment to authorize the consultation. Dr Giardini offers a fast-track referral service, enabling your child to have a same or next-day appointment. Dr. Giardini also offers Saturday and Sunday appoinements at diferent location and the availability and locations can be seen here. A referral from your GP is not mandatory. We require a minimum of 72 hours notice for all cancellations and may have to apply a cancellation or missed appointment fee which covers the expenses related to the miused appoinemtn. ​Your GP and the referring specialist will be kept fully informed following the consultation.

If you are planning to self-fund your child’s treatment, I can provide you with an estimate, prior to commencing the treatment, for the majority of problems that I treat. Many private hospitals require that payment is made in full at or before the time of treatment for self-funding patients. This payment covers the cost of the tests undertaken on the day. The value of the deposit varies with the tests/treatment needed and is at the discretion of the hospital providing treatment. For admissions the hospital may require further payments on account with payment of the residual balance in full upon discharge.

My fees for the outpatient consultation appointment are:
Initial Consultation £250
Follow-up Consultation £200

I am a recognised provider with all major medical insurance companies (BUPA, AXA PPP, Norwich Union/AVIVA, WPA, Medigo, Allianz, Vitality, SOS Healthcare, etc). If you are covered by a medical insurance company we will bill the insrances diurectly at their agreed rates with Dr. Giardini. Medical insurance companies often require that a referral is obtained by your child’s general practitioner as a condition of the insurance policy. I would recommend that you make contact with your insurance company prior to your initial consultation. The insurance company will give you a pre-authorization reference number which will simplify the payment process. Please bring your insurance details (policy number and authorization number). If pre-authorization has not been granted prior to the consultation, you will be asked to pay on the day of your visit prior to your consultation. You should then forward the receipt to your insurance company for reimbursement.