An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a quick, non-invasive test that records the heart’s electrical activity over time. For clinicians working across primary care, urgent care, and secondary settings, ECG interpretation is a vital skill, not just for cardiac diagnoses, but for safe, real-time clinical decision making.

From palpitations to chest pain, collapse to breathlessness, ECGs often hold the key to timely, life-saving intervention. Whether it’s recognising ST-elevation in an acute MI, spotting AF in a breathless elderly patient, or identifying red flags like broad QRS complexes or high-grade heart blocks, ECGs demand both attention to detail and clinical context.

This guide provides a structured, stepwise approach to ECG interpretation; demystifying rate, rhythm, axis, intervals, and waveform abnormalities. It’s built for clinicians, focused on what matters most in practice; speed, clarity, safety, and confidence. Whether in an OSCE or real-world setting, we’ve got you covered.