Today, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Defibrillators, Chaired by Jonathan Gullis MP, publishes recommendations for government following its yearlong inquiry into defibrillator access and sudden cardiac arrest survivorship in the United Kingdom.
Please click here to review the full report.
Every year, 160,000 deaths are a result of heart and circularity diseases, equating to nearly a quarter of all deaths in the UK . Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) affect over 100,000 people per year in the UK. A resuscitation attempt is carried out by the emergency services on approximately 34,000 people. Unfortunately, in the UK, the chances of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital are bleak, with just 1 in 10 surviving.
This landmark report sheds light on critical issues surrounding the availability of defibrillators, the need for enhanced first aid training, and the support required for sudden cardiac arrest survivors.
The inquiry, driven by a commitment to understanding the impact of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest on society and public services, has culminated in a detailed report with evidence gathered from public inquiry sessions, written submissions from industry stakeholders, and poignant testimonies from sudden cardiac arrest survivors.
Key findings from the report include:
- Defibrillator Access: The report advocates for a mandate requiring defibrillators to be present in every building, akin to smoke alarms. It also suggests mandating defibrillators in all new homes and emergency service vehicles, along with publishing progress on defibrillator installations in schools. Additionally, it proposes the consideration of criminalising the damage to defibrillators to ensure access to life-saving equipment. It also criticised an unacceptable postcode lottery for access to defibrillators, especially for those in deprived areas.
- First Aid Training: Recommendations include mandating comprehensive defibrillator usage in the school curriculum as part of mandatory CPR training, starting from primary school. Early initiation of CPR training and integration with driving license procedures are also proposed to enhance public readiness in responding to sudden cardiac arrests.
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivorship Support: The report calls for the establishment of a care programme for sudden cardiac arrest survivors and a review of treatment pathways to ensure comprehensive support post-cardiac arrest.
A key recommendation in the report advocates for the Government to mandate defibrillators in all emergency service vehicles. MPs heard moving testimonies from sudden cardiac arrest survivors, such as former professional footballer and regular Sky Sports pundit, David Ginola, as well as family members who have lost loved ones due to inadequate access to defibrillators as well as emergency services not having a defibrillator.
Without defibrillation, the chances of survival drop by 10% every minute. Yet, across the UK, access to a defibrillator from the centre of any postcode requires an average 19-minute round trip, and also disproportionately affects deprived areas – often the areas which are most likely in need of a device. Emergency services, already under strain, struggle to reach incidents promptly. On top of this, police cars and fire engines often lack defibrillators, with many police forces having a defibrillator in less than 1.5% of their cars, exacerbating response challenges.
MPs heard evidence from Naomi Issitt, who tragically lost her son Jamie to a sudden cardiac arrest in January 2022, underscoring critical gaps in emergency response. Jamie’s collapse at 2am highlighted the crucial need for accessible defibrillators and widespread CPR training. Despite collapsing near a defibrillator-equipped school building, it remained inaccessible due to being closed. Emergency services’ delayed response prompted the dispatch of a police car, which lacked a defibrillator. Naomi has been tirelessly campaigning on behalf of Jamie to increase the number of defibrillators to always be accessible, for all emergency responders to carry defibrillators and to require more people to be CPR trained.
In response to the report, Jonathan Gullis MP, Chair of the APPG for Defibrillators, stated, ” Holding this inquiry has been incredibly moving and powerful to hear the stories of those impacted by incidents of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest. It has been significantly valuable in helping us see the true gravity of the issue and we as a government must do more to ensure lives are not being lost.
This report underscores the urgent need for action to improve defibrillator access and sudden cardiac arrest survival rates in the UK. We are immensely grateful to all those who contributed to our inquiry and hope that our recommendations will be carefully considered and acted upon.”
The release of the report marks a significant milestone in the APPG’s ongoing efforts to drive positive change in the landscape of defibrillator access and sudden cardiac arrest survivorship. Stakeholders, policymakers, and the public are urged to engage with the recommendations outlined in the report to save lives and improve outcomes for all.
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