Game-Changing Partnership: KIMS Hospital Joins Forces with Kent FA to Champion Heart Health in Kent Football

KIMS Hospital is proud to be partnering with the Kent County Football Association (Kent FA) on a pioneering heart health initiative that will deliver subsidised ECG screenings to players, match officials, and coaches across Kent football.

With more than 62,000 registered players in Kent, undiagnosed heart conditions remain a serious concern. In 2024, a player at a Kent walking football club suffered a cardiac arrest during a match. Thanks to immediate CPR and defibrillation, his life was saved – a reminder of how vital early intervention and awareness can be. Unfortunately, not all cardiac incidents have such outcomes, and many could be prevented through early ECG detection.

This programme has been a joint effort between KIMS Hospital and Kent FA, led by Emma Santer and Anne Hatswell – combining Emma’s experience in professional sport with Anne’s clinical leadership in cardiology to ensure the programme is both practical and medically robust.

Emma and Anne will be running a pilot with Kent FA staff this January to test and refine the programme. Once the pilot is successfully completed, the initiative will be rolled out more widely to players, coaches, and match officials across Kent, ensuring that the benefits of early heart health detection reach the grassroots football community.

As home to the number one private interventional cardiology facility outside London*, KIMS Hospital offers the most comprehensive private cardiology service in Kent. This initiative reflects their commitment not only to exceptional clinical care, but also to prevention, education, and community wellbeing.

Alongside the pilot, KIMS Hospital will also be supporting Heart Month with the British Heart Foundation in February, working with five football clubs across Kent to host dedicated fundraising and awareness events. These events will further strengthen heart health messaging within local communities and reinforce the importance of early detection and lifesaving skills.

KIMS Hospital cardiologists have agreed to support this initiative by reviewing ECGs and lending their expertise to what is a first-of-its-kind programme in Kent. Their involvement is critical to ensuring participants receive expert, timely clinical oversight and reassurance.

“This partnership allows us to combine KIMS Hospital’s clinical expertise with a practical understanding of the football environment. By working closely with Kent FA, we’re aiming to make heart health support accessible and reassuring for everyone involved in the game.” – Emma Santer

“Early detection saves lives and this programme helps bring cardiology expertise directly into the community. We’re grateful to our colleagues who are supporting this work and proud to be part of an initiative that prioritises prevention and safety.” – Anne Hatswell

Once the pilot is complete and the programme rolled out, KIMS Hospital will explore extending the initiative into other sports, broadening its impact beyond football.

The programme will officially launch in January 2026, marking another important step in KIMS Hospital’s commitment to protecting heart health across the communities we serve.

For details of upcoming screening events, visit www.KentFA.com and follow us on social media for updates.

Join the conversation using #HealthyHeartFC.

*Source: Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN), August 2025