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Defibrillators: Public Access — [Sir Charles Walker in the Chair]
04 July 2023
Lead MP
Abena Oppong-Asare
Erith and Thamesmead
Lab
Responding Minister
Will Quince
Tags
NHS
Word Count: 11378
Other Contributors: 8
At a Glance
Abena Oppong-Asare raised concerns about defibrillators: public access — [sir charles walker in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The hon. Member asks the Minister to address the issue of unequal distribution of defibrillators and to provide a clear method for distributing the £1 million announced recently for community defibrillators. She also requests information on public awareness campaigns, accessibility issues, and workplace training programs.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The hon. Member is concerned about the uneven distribution of defibrillators across different socioeconomic groups, with poorer communities having less access than affluent ones. She highlights that only 8% of people suffering a heart attack outside of hospital will survive, but this increases to 32% if they have access to an AED. The hon. Member also points out the importance of public awareness and training in using defibrillators effectively.
Angus MacNeil
SNP
Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Acknowledges the hon. Member for raising this subject, mentioning Lucky2BHere charity that has placed over 150 defibrillators across Na h-Eileanan an Iar and highlights personal experience of Michelle Macleod's life being saved by a defibrillator.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Commends the hon. Member for securing the debate, mentions his previous bill which led to 4,500 AEDs in schools and over 70,000 staff trained, saving 47 lives including two in his constituency, and suggests teaching CPR is crucial.
Luke Pollard
Lab Co-op
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Emphasized the importance of defibrillators in saving lives, citing a personal experience where a councillor's life was saved during a public meeting. Highlighted the need for more defibrillators in poorer communities and called for fair distribution of funding to address areas with high heart disease risk. Suggested larger corporations should be encouraged to install and signpost defibrillators visibly. Also called for mandatory first aid training for parliamentary staff and recommended that schools teach basic first aid skills. Emphasised the importance of making defibrillator data accessible on handheld devices, noting that current search tools like Google Maps do not provide adequate information.
Highlighted the critical need for timely access to defibrillators during cardiac arrests and the benefits of The Circuit's national defibrillator network. He also stressed the importance of community engagement, CPR training, addressing health inequalities, and making defibrillators more affordable.
Richard Foord
Lib Dem
Honiton and Sidmouth
Paid tribute to the hon. Member for Erith and Thamesmead for highlighting the importance of altruism in emergencies, mentioned two local initiatives: Devon Air Ambulance Trust's 'Help with all your Heart' campaign which includes CPR training and placing AEDs outside charity shops; Axe Valley Runners club's 'defib dash' to raise awareness. Asked the Government to create a comprehensive national register for AEDs to ensure better accessibility in emergencies, especially in rural areas. Inquired about the arguments against making defibrillator registration compulsory.
Tooting
Emphasised the importance of defibrillators in saving lives, citing statistics showing that only 8% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests survive without access to an AED. Highlighted the economic benefits of early intervention and called for more accessible placement of defibrillators to address health inequalities. Requested an update on progress towards meeting a target, noting that the academic year ends in two weeks.
Barnsley South
Peacock highlighted the low survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Yorkshire, noting that fewer than one in ten individuals survive such incidents annually. She praised bystander willingness to perform CPR and noted that defibrillation within three to five minutes of collapse can improve survival rates from 50% to 70%. Peacock also pointed out the disparity in access to defibrillators between affluent and less affluent areas, urging the government to take urgent action for more equitable distribution.
Virginia Crosbie
Con
Tiverton and Honiton
Thanks the hon. Member for securing this important debate, highlighting the importance of community defibrillator training sessions and thanking individuals such as Ryan Cawsey from St John Ambulance Cymru and Stephanie Roberts from the Gwalchmai Hotel who organize free training sessions.
Government Response
Will Quince
Government Response
The Minister thanked hon. Members for their contributions and highlighted the Government's efforts to improve access to defibrillators, including a £1 million fund to provide an estimated 1,000 new publicly accessible AEDs in community spaces. He noted that this builds on previous work by the NHS and stakeholders to increase survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests via the use of defibrillators and CPR training. The Minister also mentioned a plan to distribute over 20,000 devices across schools backed by £19 million in funding. Additionally, he discussed ongoing efforts to promote awareness about AEDs through campaigns like 'The Circuit' and highlighted the importance of first aid training in communities.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.