Electrocardiogram Screening

Lord Addington Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd April 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I pay tribute to Hilary and all parents who, at the worst moment in their lives, campaign to ensure that nobody has to go through a similar situation. Obviously, I, or another more relevant Minister, would be happy to sit down with Italian counterparts to discuss what more we can do. I will say, however, that we are awaiting the findings of the UK National Screening Committee, and it is right that we go through these proper processes.

[Lord Addington (LD)]

My Lords, will the Minister look to use the structures that are already there to get this screening process under way? Will the Government make sure that the academies for football and rugby, which prepare young people for intensive physical activity, take the lead on this? We proposed in the football Bill that we should look after player welfare; this might be an interesting first step down that path.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I am pleased to be able to tell the noble Lord that Sport England and others are already working with charities such as Cardiac Risk in the Young to make sure that screening takes place at a local level. There are additional things that can be done. Buddle, which is Sports England’s site for clubs and community organisations, is looking to further increase the profile of organisations, such as CRY, which organise screening locally in the next refresh of the safety, welfare and well-being section of its website, which should take place imminently.