| Centre type | From-price | Referral rule | Report time | Source | Date checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated scanning centre group: cardiac MRI (Vista Health) | £750 routine; £900 with contrast | Self-referral offered | Full report within 3 working days | vista-health.co.uk | 5 October 2026 |
| Hospital group (50+ hospitals) (Circle Health Group) | From £347; varies by hospital, quote may be higher | Priced on the scans requested by the professional who referred you | Same day in some cases; otherwise within one week | circlehealthgroup.co.uk | 5 October 2026 |
Prices are the centres' own published figures, checked by Pete on 5 October 2026. A centre may change a price at any time; the centre's quote is what counts. We delete a row we cannot re-check. Listing a centre here does not mean it is a partner of ours. Full list on Sources.
What we can and cannot do
We are not a clinic and not the NHS. We do not scan, diagnose, refer or book a confirmed slot. We cannot tell you whether you need an MRI. If you have new weakness, numbness in the saddle area, loss of bladder or bowel control, sudden severe headache, chest pain or any symptom that frightens you, call 999 or NHS 111, or see your GP, today.
What we can do: explain the price, the referral rule and the centre types in plain English, and, if you ask, pass your request to one independent scanning centre that covers your area so it can contact you. That is free for you. The centre may pay us a fee.
Four steps to a private MRI
- Body area. Name the one area to be scanned: cardiac. Two areas usually cost more than one.
- Referral rule. Check whether the centre takes self-referral or wants a letter from a GP, physio or consultant. See self-referral and GP letter.
- Centre type. Dedicated scanning centre, hospital group, or open MRI. Compare the from-price, the referral rule and the report time.
- Ask one centre to contact you. Use the form. One partner centre may call or email you. Nothing is booked until you agree a time and price with them.
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What does a cardiac MRI show?
A cardiac MRI (heart MRI) shows the size and pumping function of the heart chambers, the thickness of the heart muscle, the valves and the large blood vessels. With contrast, it can show scarring or inflammation in the heart muscle. It is used to investigate heart muscle conditions (cardiomyopathies), inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), some congenital heart conditions, and to assess the heart after a heart attack.
It is not usually the first heart test. ECG and an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram) come first in most cases.
When should I not wait for a private heart scan?
Chest pain, especially with breathlessness, sweating or pain spreading to the arm or jaw, needs 999 now. Fainting during exercise, new palpitations with dizziness, or breathlessness at rest need urgent assessment through NHS 111 or your GP.
Can I refer myself for a private cardiac MRI?
Vista Health's cardiac MRI page offers a self-referral route and lists locations including Waterloo and Bristol. Most cardiac MRIs are ordered by a cardiologist who will act on the result, and a heart scan without a cardiologist to interpret it may not move things on. Hospital groups usually want a referral. See self-referral.
How much does a private cardiac MRI cost?
On 5 October 2026, Vista Health listed £750 for a routine cardiac MRI and £900 with contrast, with a full report within three working days. Circle Health Group listed cardiac scans among its MRI types and said its MRI prices start from £347, but a cardiac scan is likely to cost well above that starting price; ask for a quote. We could not verify other published cardiac MRI prices, so we have not listed them.
What happens during a cardiac MRI?
ECG stickers go on your chest so the scanner can time images to your heartbeat. You lie on your back, head first, and are asked to hold your breath many times, often for 10 to 15 seconds. If contrast is used, a small needle goes into a vein in your arm, and some scans use a medicine that makes the heart work harder. Expect 45 to 60 minutes. Tell the centre about any pacemaker, defibrillator or other implant well in advance; some are MRI-conditional and need special arrangements.
Is a cardiac MRI the same as a heart screening scan?
Not quite. Some centres sell heart scans as health checks for people without symptoms. A cardiac MRI ordered by a cardiologist answers a specific question about your heart, using the sequences that question needs. A screening heart scan uses a set protocol. Both can find things that need follow-up, and both can find small changes that turn out to be unimportant. If you have no symptoms and are thinking about a heart scan as a check, ask a GP first whether an ECG, blood pressure check, cholesterol test or echocardiogram would tell you more for less. If you have a family history of a heart muscle condition or sudden death at a young age, ask your GP about referral to an inherited cardiac conditions service, which the NHS runs for exactly that situation.
How long does a cardiac MRI report take?
Vista Health says its cardiac MRI report is available within three working days of the scan. Cardiac MRI reports are detailed and include measurements of each chamber, so the report is usually written by a radiologist or cardiologist with cardiac imaging training. Ask who will explain the report to you, and whether that consultation is included in the price.
What should I ask before booking?
- Has a cardiologist asked for this scan, and with or without contrast?
- Is a stress (perfusion) scan needed? That is different and costs more.
- Who reads it? A cardiac imaging specialist should.
- Will the report go to my cardiologist or GP?
How much does a private cardiac MRI cost?
On 5 October 2026, Vista Health listed £750 routine and £900 with contrast. We could not verify other published prices.
Can I refer myself for a heart MRI?
Vista Health offers self-referral for cardiac MRI. Most heart MRIs are ordered by a cardiologist who will act on the result.
How long does a cardiac MRI take?
Usually 45 to 60 minutes, with many short breath-holds.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.