Dr Allan Harkness

Consultant Cardiologist for Essex and Suffolk

Cardiologist and Physician for over 20 Years

Dr Allan Harkness

My practice covers the whole spectrum of adult cardiology including chest pain, breathlessness, heart failure, high blood pressure, cholesterol, murmurs, blackouts and palpitations. I trained as a Cardiologist and Physician in Glasgow and London, including such leading centres as The Heart Hospital and The Royal Free Hospital.

As a Consultant accredited in both Cardiology and General Medicine, I offer a more holistic review when considering problems that may be related to your heart.

Patient safety is my top priority and I continually look to improve my practice and the standards of care of my team. This is reflected in my patient feedback.

Leading Services Across Essex and Suffolk

I have played a leading role in the development of Cardiac Services across Essex and Suffolk. I have been a Consultant Cardiologist at Colchester Hospital since 2006 and at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre since it opened in 2007.  More recently, I was heavily involved in the Clinical Reference Group for Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals, leading to the decision to merge the Trusts in July 2018.

In 2010, I became the Clinical Lead for Cardiology at Colchester Hospital. In this role, I have developed Colchester’s cardiac services extensively, leading on valve clinics, heart failure services, MRI compatible pacemakers, stress echo, transoesophageal echo, 3D echo and CT coronary angiography.

Subsequently, I was appointed Divisional Director for Medicine and Emergency Care for Colchester Hospital in 2017.

Through mentorship of GPs and nurses, I have developed close links with primary care. Also, as the lead Cardiologist working with our Clinical Commissioning Group, I helped develop new cardiology services, leading to our outstanding local Community Heart Failure Service.

I am a principal member of the Education Committee of the British Society of Echocardiography, lecturing at national training programmes and have co-authored a dozen national guidelines. I developed the BSE app EchoCalc for Android and iPhone – the top app for cardiac physiologists worldwide. In October 2019, I was awarded Fellowship of the British Society of Echocardiography for my work. In October 2021, I received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the society in recognition of my committee work and app development.

Arranging a Consultation

I see patient from across Essex and Suffolk. My private practice is at:

To arrange a consultation with me, contact my private practice secretary, Claire Osborne, at the Oaks – see contacts.