Sports Cardiology

Why is cardiac screening necessary?

To enhance the health and welfare of players entering the professional game, The FA Sports Medicine & Sports Science Department co-ordinates The Associations Football Medical Screening Programme for youth players attached to Football Academies and Centres of Excellence. This involves over 750 youth players (16 years old) attached to professional clubs and new recruits to Academies of Football. This medical screening programme is funded by the PFA and there is no financial cost to clubs who wish to use this service.

Cardiac screening is a mandatory requirement and is denoted by player age group and regulated under the UEFA article 6 and EFL rule 59:

EFL rule 59 states:  

Clubs must ensure that the following heart screening checks are performed for each Player registered with that Club:

• Players in Under 15 age group (as determined in accordance with the Youth Development Rules): the completion of a cardiac history questionnaire; and a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (‘ECG’);
• Players registered as a Scholar, at the commencement of their Scholarship Agreement (and any other Players of an equivalent age who continue to be registered with a Club): the completion of a cardiac history questionnaire and a physical examination; an ECG; and echocardiogram.
• Player in the Under 19 and Under 21 age groups: the completion of a cardiac history questionnaire and an ECG.

For more info from EFL click here

The Football Association & Professional Footballers’ Association Complete Standard Operating Procedures Cardiac Screening Scholarship Programme (2024) section 5.0 Current Recommendations for On-going Surveillance:

The FA cardiology consensus panel recommends that all players undergo further screening with a health questionnaire and ECG at the age of 18, 20 and again at 25 years of age.

UEFA Medical Regulations (July 2024) Article 5 states:

• A standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) must be performed annually
• An echocardiography must be performed every two years.

For more information from UEFA click here

Complete Standard Operating Procedures Cardiac Screening Women’s Super League (Nov 2023)

• Now mandatory for all WSL clubs to screen all their professional players and 1st team only within the WCL (initial ECG & Echo).
• The FA cardiology consensus panel recommends that all players in the women’s football undergo further screening with a health questionnaire and ECG at 4 yearly intervals after their initial screening, regardless of age and to the age of 25.
• If the club wishes to screen again after this age, for example at 29 years old, then this will be at the club’s own discretion.

Why choose PML?

PML’s Cardiac Screening Team currently look after many eligible clubs with academies or centres of excellence and carry out screening services from the U15 players through to club professionals and international level players.

PML have been providing mobile screening services to sportsmen and women from a wide range of sports, including FA Scholars for the since 1999. 

We offer a mobile service that in every way duplicates the service that you would receive in a hospital. All equipment needed is portable and we bring our quality ECG and Echocardiography services to your medical room or other facility of your choice, saving valuable travel time and club resources with unparalleled flexibility. 

In the comfort of your own space we can offer:

• Resting 12 Lead ECG
• 24/48/72 hour or 7 day Ambulatory ECG monitoring.
• Resting Echocardiography

For more information about each test please click here.

For further information or to secure your booking please contact;
Christine Peacock on 07809 336207 or by email c.peacock@pml.tel

To ensure your staff and ours are kept as safe as possible, PML continue to follow NHS England COVID 19 Guidance.

Latest info click here:  https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/   

Benefits to you as a club include;

• There is no additional cost for using the mobile screening service for first year scholars. From a club perspective, it will save you time and money.
• We charge the same rate for senior players as we do for junior players and we do not load costs. We do have a minimum number of players we will come to you for which is 4 ECG and Echo, or 10 resting ECGs.
• One point of contact for clubs and the FA.
• Raising awareness amongst staff, players and parents of the issue of sudden cardiac death in sport.
• Opportunities to learn about imaging techniques and discuss investigations.
• Organisation wide reassurance.
• Emphasises the importance of disease surveillance, health screening and cardiac profiling.
• Promotes health care in a wider sense amongst all staff and encourages better self care.
• Reduced likelihood of litigation and organisation shown to be pro-active in care of athletes and corporate governance.
• Ensures your club is proactive in mitigating risk in the issue of sudden cardiac death.
• Reduced chance of negative media exposure keep your organisation in the news for the right reasons.

Quality Assurance

People:

• Testing is carried out by highly specialised BSE accredited Cardiac Physiologists and reported by one of the Cardiologist’s listed on the FA Advisory Panel. Link to register. https://www.bsecho.org/Public/Public/Accreditation/Personal-accred/Accredited-members.aspx
• Staff are trained and certified in performing and interpreting ECG’s in accordance with the Society for Cardiological Science and Technology (SCST) guidelines. https://scst.org.uk/
• Staff are voluntary member of professional bodies ( AHCS/RCCP : https://app.ahcs.ac.uk/search  )
• All staff annually complete comprehensive mandatory training on safeguarding children and vulnerable people.
• All staff are DBS checked annually with enhanced disclosure for your peace of mind.

Processes:

Your Information - Physiological Measurements

• PML is accredited to the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) for Echo Quality. BSE departmental accreditation is a recognised benchmark of quality and demonstrates that an echo department meets realistic quality standards. https://www.bsecho.org/Public/Accreditation/Departmental-accred/Departmental-accreditation.aspx
• PML are accredited with ISO 9001:2015 (the globally recognised standard for Quality Management).
• PML are accredited with ISO 14001 (An environmental management system which helps organisations identify, manage, monitor and control their environmental issues in a “holistic” manner.
• All testing is in accordance with BSE’s “Guideline for the Practice of Echocardiography in the Cardiovascular Screening of Sports Participants” https://www.bsecho.org/common/Uploaded files/Education/Protocols and guidelines/Sports screening.pdf

Productivity

Same day technical reports are available and consultant reports are available within 5 working days, or earlier on request.

For further information or to secure your booking please contact;
Christine Peacock on 07809 336207 or by email c.peacock@pml.tel

FEEDBACK 

We love to hear your feedback on our services. 

Feedback provided by Dave Rayner-Lok, Head of Academy Sports Science & Medicine, Gillingham Football Club. April 2024:

“I have always found the team at PML professional, friendly, and proactive in arranging and fulfilling cardiac screening clinics for my club's players. Christine is very knowledgeable and is always on hand to help. Emily has been brilliant, offering a very professional service to our players during our cardiac screening clinics. I recommend the team at PML without hesitation.”

Feedback from Dr Jenna Middleton, GP with Extended Role at Shropshire Orthopaedic Outreach Service. March 2024:

“Thanks so much for such a professional and fantastic service throughout all of this.
I would highly recommend the team at PML. An exceptionally responsive and professional service.”

Feedback from Stewart Drummond, Academy Manager at Morecambe FC. October 2023:

“We have built a good relationship up between us all. Caroline has been very flexible for us, and Christine always helps with ensuring the paperwork is all completed”

Feedback from Luke Gray, Doncaster Rovers Football Club Nov 2022:

“Having used Physiological Measurements Ltd for the last two seasons, I have been thoroughly impressed with the service that they offered.   Christine and Caroline were tremendous with the flexibility, knowledge and punctuality they both offered - I would recommend PML to any sports clubs whom required specialist cardiac screening services!”

The below feedback was received from Scunthorpe United in April 2021:

'Your Radiographer was fantastic with our young players putting them at ease throughout the process and was so professional throughout what was a busy morning. She is a real asset to your organisation and we would be delighted should she travel up to screen our players again in the future.'

 Feedback from Mike Hine at Lincoln City FC 1st Team - May 2021:

‘PML do a great job for us. They are professional and efficient at what they do. Their staff ensure that our players feel comfortable and we would highly recommend them to any sports clubs looking to undertake cardiac screening.’

Feedback from Alison Willetts, Senior Academy Physiotherapist at Swindon Town Football Club - May 2021:

'Conducting our academy cardiac screening with PML is always a smooth and supported process thanks to the organisation of Christine. The technicians always place the players at ease, which is helped by PML facilitating the screening at the club, a familiar environment to them. It is always a pleasure to work with this wonderful company.' 

Feedback from Tass Amiridis, Academy Physiotherapist at Crewe Alexandra Football Club - October 2021

'I have found yourself and your company a fantastic organisation to work with, always very accommodating, prompt and very helpful with the cardiac screening process - which as you know is quite a thorough process. I would highly recommend you again.'