The Kent FA have teamed up with KIMS Hospital to provide subsidised ECG screenings for players, match officials and coaches.
With over 62,000 registered players in Kent, the risk of undetected heart conditions is a growing concern.
In 2024, a player at a Kent walking football club collapsed from cardiac arrest during a match. Thanks to quick CPR and defibrillation, his life was saved but, sadly, not every story ends this way.
There are an increasing number of similar incidents that could have been prevented through early ECG detection.
KIMS Hospital is home to the number one private interventional cardiology facility outside of London.
The first-of-its-kind programme in Kent has been developed through a collaborative partnership between Kent FA and KIMS Hospital, bringing together football and clinical expertise to deliver professional-level heart health support to the grassroots game.
“Football is about passion, community, and care, and that includes looking after our heart health,” said Kent FA chief executive Darryl Haden.
“We’re proud to team up with KIMS Hospital to make preventive care easy, accessible and reassuring for our players and the wider football family.”
Anne Hatswell, divisional lead for cardiology at KIMS Hospital, said: “Early detection saves lives. By bringing ECG screenings to the football community, we’re helping prevent tragedies and empowering players to take control of their heart health.”
Kent FA will release the dates and the venues of the screening events shortly.
