It is vital that screening policy is based on scientific evidence, as screening can also cause harm.

The Government is advised on all screening matters by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which is made up of leading medical and screening experts. Where the UK NSC is confident that to offer screening provides more good than harm, they recommend a screening programme.

The UK NSC last reviewed screening for the conditions associated with sudden cardiac death in people under the age of 39 years old in 2019 and concluded that population screening should not be offered.

Research showed that it was unclear whether available tests could accurately detect heart conditions in young people without symptoms. The current evidence suggests that introducing population-level screening for the conditions associated with sudden cardiac death would cause harm by misdiagnosing some people, potentially leading them to make life-changing decisions, such as giving up exercise, which could have a negative long-term impact on their health.

Receiving a false diagnosis could also lead to some people being prescribed medication or undergoing medical procedures that they do not need, such as having an implantable defibrillator fitted. It could lead to people living in fear of sudden cardiac death when they are not at risk.

At the same time, screening could provide false reassurance to others who are at risk of sudden cardiac death but whose risk would not be picked up by screening tests. Footballers seen having cardiac arrests on the pitch have often been screened, but the test did not show anything unusual – there are many causes of sudden cardiac death which might not be detectable as part of screening.

Additionally, the 2019 review did not find any research comparing the effectiveness of screening with no screening in the prevention of sudden cardiac death.

The UK NSC is currently re-examining the evidence for sudden cardiac death screening and will open a public consultation in the spring.

To reduce the risks of sudden cardiac death, NHS England has a published national service specification for Inherited Cardiac Conditions that covers patients who often present as young adults with previously undiagnosed cardiac disease, or families requiring follow up due to a death caused by this. This describes the service model and guidance that should be followed to support diagnosis and treatment of patients or family members. It also includes the requirement for specialised Inherited Cardiac Conditions services to investigate suspected cases.

NHS England also runs training sessions on first aid, CPR and the use of defibrillators both in the community and in schools.

The Department of Health and Social Care’s Community Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Fund delivered 3,080 new AEDs to local communities between September 2023 and February 2025. These AEDs were prioritised for areas of greatest need. This included remote communities with extended ambulance response times, places with high footfall and high population densities, hotspots for cardiac arrest including sporting venues and venues with vulnerable people, and deprived areas.

More broadly, since 2014 the NHS has run quality assured antenatal and newborn screening programmes through which babies are screened for congenital heart disease antenatally, and in the newborn period.

The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England currently have no specific ongoing campaigns, or plans to conduct a campaign, to raise awareness of sudden cardiac death.

Department of Health and Social Care