Faye Singleton working to provide accessible ECG screenings

Faye Singleton, originally from Cheshire, studied BioMedical Science at the University of York and has since built a career working for Thirsk-based company CardioLogic.

She has been using her expertise in the field to best support local football teams based in the North Riding FA, working closely with the FA to help provide cheaper ECG tests, a potentially-life saving initiative. With around 1 in 300 people that have an ECG test, finding a life-threatening abnormality.

A member of the York City Ladies squad, but currently recovering from an ACL injury, Faye was on the pitch when former teammate Summer Paley collapsed during a match in September 2024 due to an undetected heart condition.

Now Faye’s looking to get the message out that ECG heart screenings are easily accessible, having worked with the North Riding FA to provide over 150 tests so far.

Faye told the Press: “People aren’t aware of how common sudden cardiac death is. 12 young people a week die from sudden cardiac death in the UK alone.

“An ECG can prevent it, and this is around half the cost of a private ECG test, which is over £70.

“It’s potentially life-saving, so we’re hoping as many people reach out for it.

“Within North Riding FA we’ve done over 150 tests but it’s time for more sports clubs, schools, colleges, and universities to join the initiative.”

“We’re also working with British Athletics and other County FA’s now, we’ve got Birmingham, Cumberland and Liverpool on board with the device and the project.

Faye hopes to one day support the lower reaches of the women’s football game. Picture: Supplied

“It’s the device, which is an innovation in tech, that has enabled us to do this.

“Without this next step forward in the technology, we wouldn’t be able to offer an ECG at this price. ”

A typical ECG test requires medical professionals to position electrodes correctly. This new technology has those electrodes pre-positioned in one sticky patch. Faye explained that even players can apply it themselves.

All it takes is one sticky patch, stuck to the centre of someone’s chest, it records a 12-lead ECG through BlueTooth connectivity to a mobile phone. The tracings are sent off to UK Cardiologists who can analyse the ECG and create a report highliting if there is an underlying heart condition.

Therefore Faye, who has been working closely with Jasmine Morris – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer at the North Riding FA – has recently linked up with local side Fulford FC under-13’s girls team, to help provide them with ECG screenings.

Faye continued: “We worked with Fulford FC under-13’s girls recently, and they all stuck it on themselves no problem.

“They did the ECG, which takes 10 seconds, and their parents got a report a week later in a secure email, which said whether their child’s ECG is normal or abnormal.

“Jas is a huge part in this, she takes the device to the clubs.

Local team Fulford FC’s under-13’s girls recently underwent cardiac screenings in partnership with the North Riding FA. Picture: Supplied

“We try and contact the clubs to say this is on offer, do you have anyone interested?

“They come back and say ‘yes we’ve got ten players’ that want the test, so we then send the consent form out to each player or parent, if they are under 18, then Jas or myself will go to their training night and test each player which takes around five minutes.

Faye is currently helping to provide ECG testing to local teams throughout the North Riding FA, but in the long-term, she’d also like to make a change in the senior section of the women’s game and offer this to schools, colleges, and universities.

Summer’s collapse in 2024 was a scary moment for everyone there, and due to the level of football that York City Ladies play at, Faye confirmed that a free prior ECG test had been unavailable to the Minsterbelles squad.

That’s something she hopes to see change, looking to bridge the gap for the lower reaches of the women’s game.

“Since seeing Summer’s collapse in person, I was at the game when she collapsed, it was just so scary,” Faye said.

“I did a lot of research into what screening was available for us as a tier four club.

“If you’re a tier four team in the men’s game, you get a free ECG test, but if you’re a female, it’s only the top two tiers in the women’s side.

York City Ladies have benefitted from Faye’s support. Picture: Supplied

“I wanted to bridge that gap and even offer it to those lower than tier four, because there’s nothing stopping them from having the same cardiac arrests.”

Once a person has finished their simple ECG test, their information is forwarded on to our Head Cardiologist, Professor of Cardiology Aneil Malhotra.

Aneil, who is also an expert in sports cardiology, has been offering his full support to Faye in her battle for ECG testing, after he worked closely with some of the biggest names in sport: “He’s been brilliant, he does all the reporting.

“He reads the ECG, writes up if there are any abnormalities and then sends it back.

“He’s based in Manchester and screens all the Premier League teams in the North, plus other sports.

“He’s an expert in cardiology for the UK, so we’ve got the backing of him, which is fantastic.”

For more information, you can find Cardiologic’s new dedicated Facebook page at Cardiologic Diagnostics, which can be found HERE, or on Faye’s LinkedIn page HERE.

Alternatively, for any further information or if you’d like to get involved, you could reach Faye directly at faye@cardiologic.co.uk.