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Dr Stephen Cookson

Consultant Cardiologist

BSc (Hons), MBBS, MRCP

Practises at: Mount Alvernia Hospital

Dr-Stephen-Cookson-Cardiology

Personal Profile

Dr Stephen Cookson attended King’s College London where he graduated with the MBBS degree in 2002, and with first class honours in an intercalated BSc in radiological sciences (1999). He became a member of the Royal College of Physicians in 2007.

Training and Appointment

He undertook cardiology speciality training in the Wessex region and is recognised as a specialist in both cardiology and general internal medicine. His areas of expertise include cardiac MRI, cardiac CT and echocardiography (transthoracic, transoesophageal and stress).

Dr Cookson’s work in establishing a GP advice and guidance service was recognised by the Health Service Journal in 2018. 

He wrote the Surrey anticoagulation guidelines and was recognised nationally by the HSJ and the AF (atrial fibrillation) Association, who awarded him a Healthcare Pioneers award in 2019.  This award was given for his collaborative work with colleagues at the Royal Surrey County Hospital on developing and implementing a patient selection tool for anticoagulation choice in response to the increasing use of DOACs (Direct Oral Anticoagulants). The AF Association Healthcare Pioneers Report recognises best practice in the identification, diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and is used as a benchmark to improve patient care.

Current Practice 

Dr Cookson is currently the lead cardiologist at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford where he is additionally responsible for managing the safe working hours of over 200 junior medical staff within the hospital.  He also serves as the deputy chair of the drugs and therapeutics committee.

In private practice, Dr Cookson is happy to see patients for a variety of cardiology tests, diagnostics and monitoring procedures including electrocardiogram (ECG), transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), CT scan (or CAT scan) and MRI scan.

He also assesses cardiovascular risk profile, family history screening, wellness screening, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), 
DVLA testing and driving risk profile and drug and medication monitoring. 

Long Covid Clinic

Dr Cookson is one of the multi-disciplinary team of specialists forming the recently established Long Covid Clinic at Mount Alvernia Hospital.  It was launched in March 2021 to support and treat patients suffering with the long-term effects of Covid-19 and is unique in offering each patient a bespoke treatment package, with input from a variety of specialists, who will meet on a monthly basis to review patient progress.

Clinical Interests

Professional Memberships

  • British Society of Cardiovascular Imaging
  • European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging

Clinical Interests

  • General cardiology
  • Ischaemic heart disease
  • Hypertension
  • Heart failure
  • Cardiac MRI
  • Cardiac CT
  • Echocardiography
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