Dr Vinay Kumar Bhatia - Cardiologist | Specialist Private Consultant In Coronary Artery Disease & Echocardiography

"At Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital, I aim to provide a more bespoke clinical evaluation and investigation of patients presenting with possible cardiac related illness."

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I am a Consultant Cardiologist which is a specially trained doctor dealing with health problems relating to your heart and circulation. My expertise is in the field of cardiac imaging and specifically trans-thoracic, trans-oesophageal echocardiographic techniques and stress echocardiography (both with exercise and with pharmacological stress agents).

I perform, supervise and review about 1,000 trans-thoracic echocardiograms per year. I perform, supervise and review over 500 stress echocardiograms per year. I am the consultant in charge and involved in the care of over 1,000 patients in total per year.

The set up at Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital includes an efficient, responsive and flexible booking team and we take feedback from our patients very seriously so as to constantly keep the service up to date and on the cutting edge of clinical excellence. The tests that I perform and provide an expert opinion include: treadmill stress testing, trans-thoracic echocardiography, contrast enhanced echocardiography, diagnostic coronary angiography, trans-oesophageal echocardiography, electrocardiographic and holter monitoring analysis.

I am proud to mainly practice in the NHS, but I am also well aware of the constraints on consultation times and waiting times for many tests and procedures. This is not always best suited for some patients who need more time for a doctor to listen to the various issues in their health, and greater in depth discussion and explanation about why and how we carry out cardiac investigations in order to provide either an explanation (diagnosis) for their symptoms or at very least reassurance and peace of mind.

I grew up locally in Kent and attended the Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School. I qualified in medicine at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, London (1994). I formally trained in general medicine and cardiology (for 15 years in total) in London at hospitals that included the Hammersmith Hospital (Imperial College); the Royal Brompton Hospital and Harefield Hospital. This training included three years in basic science research at Imperial College, London for which I was awarded a PhD in 2005. I was appointed Consultant Cardiologist at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in 2009.

I am the clinical lead for echocardiography and clinical lead for cardiac services 2017 at Tunbridge Wells Hospital. I am the professional clinical lead for this service at Tunbridge Wells Hospital and Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital. I am accredited by the British Society of Echocardiography for which I also serve as a training supervisor and examiner. I am also the clinical governance lead for specialist medicine (Tunbridge Wells Hospital). Clinical governance is a systematic approach to maintaining and improving the quality of patient care within a health system (NHS).

Treatment information

Some of the principal treatments carried out by Dr Vinay Kumar Bhatia at Spire include:

Cardiology

Blood clot or thrombosis test
Blood pressure test
Blood tests for heart disease risk (cardiac testing)
Cardiac CT scan (heart CT)

Cardiac MRI
Contrast echo
ECG monitoring or event recorder - 24/48 hour
Electrocardiogram (ECG)

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Additional information

Clinical interests

Arrhythmia (Electrophysiology)
Atrial fibrillation
Cardiology
Congenital heart disease
Coronary artery disease
Echocardiography
Hypertension
Interventional cardiology
Stroke prevention

I have a special clinical interest in adult cardiology. I also have a special clinical interest in general cardiology namely: first line investigations of palpitations, investigation of black-outs, collapse or fainting episodes, non-invasive and invasive investigation of chest discomfort and breathlessness, investigation and treatment of heart failure and heart valve disease and echocardiogram screening of inheritable heart diseases. I also have an expert interest in; echocardiographic imaging techniques (including TOE) in the diagnosis and management of ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, heart valve disease, heart murmurs, palpitations, cryptogenic stroke and TIA.

Qualification and professional memberships

BSc (Hons) / University of London / 1991
Neurosciences - Neurophysiology

MBBS / Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital, University of London / 1994
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery

PhD / Imperial College (London) / 2005
Vascular Biology & Immunology

FRCP / London / 2012
Royal College of Physicians of London

Professional memberships

British Society of Cardiovascular Medicine

British Society of Echocardiography (BSE)

Royal College of Physicians of London (Fellow)

Professional leadership

Clinical Lead for Echocardiography at Tunbridge Wells Hospital
Clinical Governance Lead for Specialist Medicine (Tunbridge Wells Hospital)
Clinical Lead for Cardiac Services, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trusts