Southall Football Club has teamed up with local pharmacy Puri Pharmacy to make potentially important heart checks available to around 40 players and staff, highlighting the need for better access to cardiac screening in grassroots football.

The club arranged its first cardiac screening session for Thursday 22 October 2026 at Rectory Park in Northolt, with the cost covered by local businesses and club sponsors.

The initiative aims to help identify possible heart abnormalities that might otherwise go unnoticed, while encouraging other community sports clubs to consider similar programmes.

Bringing Specialist Heart Checks to Grassroots Football

Professional football academies have established arrangements for cardiac screening, but players outside the professional system do not always have the same access.

For smaller clubs, organising specialist tests can be difficult because of cost, availability and the practical arrangements involved.

Rahul Puri, superintendent pharmacist and independent prescriber at Puri Pharmacy, has worked with Southall FC for four years.

He believes players should have opportunities to explore cardiac screening regardless of the level at which they compete.

The partnership was developed to demonstrate how local businesses and healthcare providers can work together to make screening more accessible.

What Do the Heart Checks Involve?

The programme uses a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), a non-invasive test that records the heart's electrical activity.

The recordings are taken by Puri Pharmacy and sent to specialist provider Cardiologic for interpretation by UK cardiologists.

The screening can identify certain abnormalities that may require further medical assessment.

A separate finger-prick blood-testing service is also being provided through Lenira Health using PocDoc technology.

An ECG cannot detect every heart condition, and a normal result does not guarantee that someone is free from cardiac risk. Anyone experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, fainting or unexplained breathlessness during exercise should seek medical advice rather than relying on screening alone.

Local Businesses Help Cover the Cost

Puri Pharmacy normally offers club ECG screening from £37 plus VAT per person, including specialist interpretation and a report.

For the Southall FC initiative, players and staff were not expected to pay because local businesses and club sponsors agreed to fund the tests.

The partnership provides an example of how community organisations can help smaller sports clubs access services that might otherwise be difficult to arrange.

Puri Pharmacy is now exploring similar arrangements with other sporting organisations.

For Southall FC, the project also reinforces the importance of looking after players' wellbeing beyond training and match days.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What heart tests were arranged for Southall FC?

The club arranged resting 12-lead ECG screening, with recordings reviewed by UK cardiologists. Separate finger-prick blood tests were also included.

• How many players and staff were expected to be screened?

Around 40 Southall FC players and staff were included in the planned session.

• Did players have to pay?

No. Local businesses and club sponsors covered the cost of the planned screening.

• Can an ECG detect every heart condition?

No. An ECG can identify certain abnormalities, but it cannot rule out every heart problem or guarantee that someone is safe to participate in sport.

• Can other sports clubs arrange similar screening?

Yes. Puri Pharmacy is inviting enquiries from other clubs interested in arranging cardiac screening sessions.

Sources and Further Information

Southall FC Tackles Heart Health with Free Cardiac Screening for Players

Puri Pharmacy — Sports Cardiac Screening

https://puripharmacy.co.uk/services/sports-cardiac-screening/

P3 Pharmacy — 5 October 2026

https://www.p3pharmacy.co.uk/health-nhs-news/128880640-pharmacy-to-run-cardiac-screening-tests-for-southall-fc-players-and-staff