Recurring concern

Insufficient access to cardiac screening for young athletes

Get email alerts

Request correction

First reported 7 Apr 2025•Latest report 16 Apr 2026

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes failures of arrangements that provide, fund or make clinically appropriate cardiac screening available to young athletes and competitive sports participants, including boxers, football players and comparable groups where screening is intended to identify cardiac conditions relevant to participation.

Not included

Excludes general health screening, cardiac treatment or emergency response where access to preventive cardiac screening for young athletes is not the unsafe condition.
Excludes public awareness or education about sudden cardiac death and red-flag symptoms unless the assertion also identifies deficient access to cardiac screening.
Excludes screening for non-cardiac conditions or screening of people outside a young-athlete or competitive-sports context.
Excludes the substantive clinical quality of a cardiac screening examination after screening has been made available.

Reports: 2
Individual concerns: 2
Date range: 2025–2026
Stated actions: 3

Reports over time

Reports about this concern issued each year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Most frequent recipients

Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.

Department of Health and Social Care2

Association of Ambulance Chief Executives1

British Society For Genetic Medicine1

Cardiac Risk in the Young1

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport1

Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine1

Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK1

NHS Central East Integrated Care Board1

NHS England1

Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership1

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust1

Resuscitation Council UK1

Royal College of Emergency Medicine1

Royal College of Radiologists1

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust1

Concerns and responses across reports

Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

16 Apr2026
West London
Concerns raised1
1. Unavailability of cardiac screening for all young people and football players aged 14 and upwards
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response 3
1. Action
  Continue campaigning for awareness of young sudden cardiac death, heart testing access, and further prevention research.
  Stated by Cardiac Risk in the YoungStated in progress
2. Action
  Provide cardiac screening to more than 35,000 young people annually.
  Stated by Cardiac Risk in the YoungStated completed
3. Action
  Invest in machine learning and artificial intelligence to make screening more cost-effective, address specialist ECG interpreter shortages, and increase capacity.
  Stated by Cardiac Risk in the YoungStated in progress
Respondent positions 5
1. Position
  The National Screening Committee decides cardiac screening policy, with no UK consensus and review scheduled for 2026/27.
  Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibility
1. Position
  Decisions on screening young people for sports participation are made by the National Screening Committee.
  Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibility
2. Position
  Population screening for sudden cardiac death should not currently be offered because tests are insufficiently accurate and may cause harm.
  Stated by Department of Health and Social CareDisputes the concern
3. Position
  Population-level cardiac screening policy falls outside RCUK’s remit, so RCUK does not produce guidance or training in this area.
  Stated by Resuscitation Council UKOutside remit
4. Position
  Cardiac screening concerns should be addressed by the UK National Screening Committee and relevant specialist cardiology and genomics organisations.
  Stated by Resuscitation Council UKRedirects responsibility
AI-generated summary

Adam Ankers · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Adam Ankers suffered a cardiac arrest while playing grassroots football on 31 January 2024 due to a previously unidentified inherited cardiac condition, and died in hospital on 4 February 2024 following brain stem death. Agonal breathing and cardiac arrest were not recognised at the pitch or by the 999 call handler, and an AED was brought to the pitch but not used. The report identified concerns about recognition of agonal breathing and cardiac arrest, access to and use of defibrillators, dissemination of sudden cardiac arrest training, cardiac screening, and cascade communication of inherited disease information.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Unavailability of cardiac screening for all young people and football players aged 14 and upwards
Wider context from the report
“POINT D: That cardiac screening in those aged 14 and upwards reduces the risk of sudden cardiac death and this is not available to all young people or your football players ”
Source location
Adam Ankers · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 3 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Continue campaigning for awareness of young sudden cardiac death, heart testing access, and further prevention research.

Verbatim wording from the response
“CRY will continue to campaign to raise awareness of young sudden cardiac death, the devastating impact it has on families, and the need for every young person to have the opportunity to have their heart tested, as well as the importance of further research into the causes and prevention of young sudden cardiac death.”

Source location
Response from Cardiac Risk in the Young
Page 8 · response
Published 27 April 2026
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Provide cardiac screening to more than 35,000 young people annually.

Verbatim wording from the response
“The ECG is the most effective tool available for the early identification of many cardiac conditions associated with young sudden cardiac death. Once a condition is identified, appropriate advice, treatment and clinical management can be provided to significantly reduce the risk of cardiac arrest. CRY currently screens more than 35,000 young people each year and one in every 300 young people screened will be identified with a potentially life-threatening cardiac condition. Demand for screening continues to exceed CRY's current capacity to provide it. To help address this challenge, CRY is investing in machine learning and AI to make screening more cost-effective, address the shortage of specialist ECG interpreters, and help meet current and future demand.”

Source location
Response from Cardiac Risk in the Young
Page 8 · response
Published 27 April 2026
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Invest in machine learning and artificial intelligence to make screening more cost-effective, address specialist ECG interpreter shortages, and increase capacity.

Verbatim wording from the response
“The ECG is the most effective tool available for the early identification of many cardiac conditions associated with young sudden cardiac death. Once a condition is identified, appropriate advice, treatment and clinical management can be provided to significantly reduce the risk of cardiac arrest. CRY currently screens more than 35,000 young people each year and one in every 300 young people screened will be identified with a potentially life-threatening cardiac condition. Demand for screening continues to exceed CRY's current capacity to provide it. To help address this challenge, CRY is investing in machine learning and AI to make screening more cost-effective, address the shortage of specialist ECG interpreters, and help meet current and future demand.”

Source location
Response from Cardiac Risk in the Young
Page 8 · response
Published 27 April 2026
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
The National Screening Committee decides cardiac screening policy, with no UK consensus and review scheduled for 2026/27.

Verbatim wording from the response
“There has been no clear UK consensus on the benefits of screening of young people for participation in sport.”

Source location
Response from NHS England 2
Page 7 · response
Published 27 April 2026
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Decisions on screening young people for sports participation are made by the National Screening Committee.

Verbatim wording from the response
“This topic is governed/decided by the National Screening Committee (NSC) and was last considered in 2019, at which point there was no UK consensus. It is due to be reviewed in 2026/27.”

Source location
Response from NHS England
Page 7 · response
Published 27 April 2026
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Population screening for sudden cardiac death should not currently be offered because tests are insufficiently accurate and may cause harm.

Verbatim wording from the response
“The UK NSC last reviewed screening for the conditions associated with sudden cardiac death in people under the age of 39 years old in 2019. The conclusion of that review was that population screening should not be offered, as research showed that current tests are not accurate enough to use on young people with no symptoms.”

Source location
Response from Department of Health and Social Care
Page 2 · response
Published 27 April 2026
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Population-level cardiac screening policy falls outside RCUK’s remit, so RCUK does not produce guidance or training in this area.

Verbatim wording from the response
“In relation to Point D, concerning cardiac screening in young people, RCUK acknowledges the importance of this issue. However, cardiac screening programmes and population-level screening policy fall outside the remit of RCUK, and we do not produce guidance or training in this area. We consider that this matter is more appropriately addressed by the UK National Screening Committee and relevant specialist organisations in cardiology and genomics.”

Source location
Response from Resuscitation Council UK
Page 3 · response
Published 27 April 2026
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Cardiac screening concerns should be addressed by the UK National Screening Committee and relevant specialist cardiology and genomics organisations.

Verbatim wording from the response
“In relation to Point D, concerning cardiac screening in young people, RCUK acknowledges the importance of this issue. However, cardiac screening programmes and population-level screening policy fall outside the remit of RCUK, and we do not produce guidance or training in this area. We consider that this matter is more appropriately addressed by the UK National Screening Committee and relevant specialist organisations in cardiology and genomics.”

Source location
Response from Resuscitation Council UK
Page 3 · response
Published 27 April 2026
Open published response
7 Apr2025
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Concerns raised1
1. Lack of funding mechanisms enabling cardiac screening for competitive boxers
This report raised 21 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions 2
1. Position
  Additional departmental funding for cardiac screening cannot be provided.
  Stated by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and SportUnable to act
1. Position
  England Boxing is responsible for assessing and managing funding requirements for additional cardiac screening.
  Stated by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and SportRedirects responsibility
AI-generated summary

Christian James Gabriel Hobbs · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Christian James Gabriel Hobbs, a 17-year-old, suffered an acute deterioration at home and was taken to hospital on 26 December 2017, where he developed cardiac arrest and died after treatment was stopped. The inquest recorded multi-organ failure, cardiogenic shock and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Concerns included the absence of an echocardiogram before his arrest, non-targeted fluid management, delays in obtaining blood gases, team communication, radiology documentation, differential diagnosis, ECG interpretation, record keeping and emergency-department alarm data retention.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of funding mechanisms enabling cardiac screening for competitive boxers
Wider context from the report
“POINT Q – TESTING IN COMPETITIVE SPORTS FOR CARDIAC CONDITIONS I have a concern about funding mechanisms being available to say England Boxing that would enable appropriate screening for competitive boxers where there is already a mandatory need for a medical examination under the ‘fit or not fit to box’ protocol. This would aid further research on this important topic. Additionally, there may be a lack of general awareness for parents of sports participants on the issue of sudden cardiac death and so there may be a gap in knowledge/understanding of possible emergence of red flag symptoms. ”
Source location
Christian James Gabriel Hobbs · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 22 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Additional departmental funding for cardiac screening cannot be provided.

Verbatim wording from the response
“With regard to funding, while I would be happy to raise the issue of cardiac screening with England Boxing, the department is not able to provide additional funding. England Boxing, the national governing body for community boxing in England, which is independent of the Government, is responsible for assessing and managing its funding requirements. England Boxing receives some of its income in the form of a grant from Sport England, the Government’s arm’s-length body for grassroots sport, but also receives income through other grants, fees and donations. I believe this gives them the avenues to explore any additional funding needed.”

Source location
Response from Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Page 1 · response
Published 15 April 2025
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
England Boxing is responsible for assessing and managing funding requirements for additional cardiac screening.

Verbatim wording from the response
“With regard to funding, while I would be happy to raise the issue of cardiac screening with England Boxing, the department is not able to provide additional funding. England Boxing, the national governing body for community boxing in England, which is independent of the Government, is responsible for assessing and managing its funding requirements. England Boxing receives some of its income in the form of a grant from Sport England, the Government’s arm’s-length body for grassroots sport, but also receives income through other grants, fees and donations. I believe this gives them the avenues to explore any additional funding needed.”

Source location
Response from Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Page 1 · response
Published 15 April 2025
Open published response

Data last updated 7 September 2026

What this concern includes

Not included

Reports over time

Concerns raised1

Unavailability of cardiac screening for all young people and football players aged 14 and upwards

Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3

Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5

Concerns raised1

Lack of funding mechanisms enabling cardiac screening for competitive boxers

Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2

Actions described in response 3

Respondent positions 5

Respondent positions 2