Sudden Cardiac Arrest 2022-12-06
2022-12-06
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Cardiac arrests outside of hospital are common, with about 150 people dying daily. Immediate access to a defibrillator is critical, and without one, survival chances drop by 10% per minute.
Immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation doubles or quadruples the chance of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Defibrillation within three to five minutes dramatically improves the chance of survival. What steps is his Department taking to improve survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest?
NHS England is establishing a network of defibrillators and community first responders to save up to 4,000 lives a year by 7 June 2028.
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Assessment & feedback
The target date was not provided in the response text.
Did Not Provide Specific Measures
No Timeline Mentioned
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Due to supply chain issues, the government's target of supplying 20,000 defibrillators by 2023 might not be achieved. The department is required to install defibrillators in all new school builds since May 2020.
On average, 150 people a day die from sudden cardiac arrest outside hospital. Access to a defibrillator is crucial for survival. Without one, the chance of surviving drops by 10% every minute. I welcome the Government's commitment to rolling out defibrillators across state-funded schools in England and Wales, but I share the concern that, because of significant ongoing supply chain issues, it might not be achieved. Can the Minister explain how the Department is helping to reach the target of supplying 20,000 defibrillators by 2023?
Since May 2020, the Government have required all new school builds and refurbishments to have defibrillators installed. The Minister is happy to look into concerns about supply chain issues and will get back to the questioner.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific measures to address supply chain issues were not detailed.
Promised To Look Into Concerns
No Concrete Actions Mentioned
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
In remote areas, there is no prospect of an ambulance arriving within a short time frame in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest. The suggestion was made to use red telephone boxes that are being closed down by BT as locations for installing defibrillators.
Like many of my Lincolnshire constituents, I live in a remote village and in the unlikely event of my having a sudden cardiac arrest—I am sure that would disappoint people—there is no prospect of an ambulance coming within 10, 15 or even 20 minutes. The Government could make themselves really popular in rural areas by having a massive campaign to roll out defibrillators in most villages. For instance, we have a good opportunity to put a defibrillator in all those red telephone boxes that BT are now closing down.
My right hon. Friend makes an important point, and this is exactly why work is going on to increase the number of defibrillators across the community, for instance, in villages such as his. Many villages will already have them. We are also supporting the NHS to train community first responders.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific initiatives or timeline was provided.
Acknowledged Importance But No Concrete Measures
Response accuracy