Practising at
Dr Vinay Kumar Bhatia
Consultant Cardiologist
PhD, FRCP
"At Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital, I aim to provide a more bespoke clinical evaluation and investigation of patients presenting with possible cardiac related illness."
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)
Other treatments
- Echocardiography
- CT coronary angiography
- Heart rhythm (Holter) monitoring
- Trans-oesophageal echocardiography
Get in touch
Important information about Covid-19 tests
COVID-19 testing or antibody tests are not available as a standalone service at Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital.
Additional information
Clinical interests
Atrial fibrillation
Cardiology
Congenital heart disease
Coronary artery disease
Echocardiography
Hypertension
Interventional cardiology
Stroke prevention
I also have an expert interest in: coronary artery disease (ischaemic heart disease), cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, hypertension and heart screening. I see most general cardiology issues including: heart murmurs, palpitations, cryptogenic, black-outs, collapsing or fainting episodes, stroke and TIA, non-invasive and invasive investigation of chest discomfort and breathlessness, and echocardiogram screening (including TOE) of inheritable heart diseases.
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) / 2006
Vascular Biology & Immunology
FRCP / London / 2011
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
Current NHS posts
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospital NHS Trust (2009).
Clinical Governance Lead for Specialist Medicine (2009).
Hon. Consultant Cardiologist, Kings College Hospital, London (1994).
Personal profile
I'm a sci-fi fanatic with an interest in astrophysics. I enjoy cricket, riding my Peloton bike, and I'm an ardent LFC fan!
Financial interests
Contact information
| Telephone | Insured 01892 741 242; Self-pay 01892 741 150 |
| Private secretary | Laura Evenden |
| Private secretary telephone | 07398 426 138 |
| Private secretary email | Laura.evenden1@nhs.net |