In a groundbreaking initiative, pop-up heart health screening hubs piloted at Everton Football Club could soon be coming to Premier League stadiums across England. The successful trial program, run in partnership with the Pumping Marvellous Foundation charity, diagnosed nearly one-third of fans tested with hypertension, a leading risk factor for heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases.
Shockingly, the screening also revealed that almost 20% of those diagnosed required immediate emergency treatment, which doctors were able to provide on-site, potentially saving lives. By offering accessible “one-stop” clinics to test, diagnose, and treat early signs of heart disease right at the football grounds, the pilot aimed to reach at-risk fans who may not otherwise seek care.
Bringing Vital Care to the Community
Dr Rajiv Sankaranarayanan, the clinical lead for Everton’s “Beat Breathlessness Hub,” emphasized the critical importance of early detection and treatment for heart failure patients. “We were able to test, diagnose and provide vital medication within 60 minutes – a process that can take up to six months in the NHS,” he explained.
This innovative delivery model brought the clinic directly to the community, in a setting where fans felt comfortable and engaged. By collaborating with the football clubs, along with local NHS systems, hospitals, councils, and volunteers, the program aims to leverage the cultural power and loyalty of English football to improve cardiovascular health for the over 1 million UK residents living with heart failure.
Catching the “Silent Killer” Early
For lifelong Everton supporter Eddie Coan, 83, the pop-up screening was a lifesaver. “I had no symptoms and had no indication that I had an issue, but I went over and asked if I could be tested too,” he recalled. The impromptu check caught his undiagnosed heart arrhythmia, and Coan was quickly fitted with a pacemaker. “I had no symptoms whatsoever – so who knows what would have happened had the hub not been there that day, offering tests.”
The objective is to harness the brand of football for targeted early detection of those at serious risk of heart failure and the prompt initiation of treatment.
– Nick Hartshorne-Evans, CEO Pumping Marvellous Foundation
Scoring Goals for Heart Health
With heart failure currently costing the NHS over £2 billion per year, 60-70% of which is due to emergency hospitalizations, experts see massive potential for these types of proactive, community-based screening programs to improve outcomes and reduce the financial burden of advanced disease. Following the resounding success at Everton, other Premier League clubs are now eager to implement similar pop-up hubs at their own grounds.
- Early screening can catch critical cardiovascular issues before symptoms appear
- On-site diagnosis and treatment initiation significantly reduces delays in care
- Embedding clinics in football club communities boosts engagement, especially among men
As the program looks to expand from the initial 10 pilot sites to a fixtures at Premier League stadiums across the country, organizers hope to replicate the Everton results on a national scale. “As a football club, we have a good idea which season ticket holders might be at risk based on their age and postcode,” noted Jon Jones, director of adult services at Everton in the Community. “That means we can reach out to them in a way that breaks down barriers because it blends community and clinical.”
While still in its early stages, this innovative partnership between football, community organizations, and the healthcare system has already shown tremendous promise in tackling the “silent killer” of heart disease. By leveraging the passion of English football fans and the power of their clubs, pop-up cardiovascular screening hubs could soon be scoring big goals for heart health equality across the nation.
