A monitoring apparatus (50) monitors heart activity by sensing one or more signals accessible at an outer skin surface of a person (100). The monitoring apparatus (50) includes one or more electrodes for contacting onto the outer skin surface of the person (100), a signal processing arrangement (108) for processing one or more signals provided from the one or more electrodes to generate corresponding processed signals, and a display arrangement (106) for receiving the processed signals to generate presentation information from which a heart beat rate of the person (100) is discernible. The signal processing arrangement includes a detector for detecting signal artefacts arising from one or more electronic devices coupled to the person (100) and for removing an influence of the signal artefacts from the processed signals, such that the processed signals provide a more accurate indication of the heart beat rate. Optionally, the signal processing arrangement is operable to remove signal artefacts arising from the one or more electronic devices coupled to the person (100) being a pacemaker. The apparatus (50) is thus capable of providing more accurate monitoring of heart beat rate.
