Cardiac Science welcome UK wide database of defibrillators

A new ground-breaking partnership between the NHS, the British Heart Foundation (BHF), and Microsoft to create a UK wide database of defibrillators.

The new partnership aims to map all of the UK’s defibrillators, with a shared ambition for the life-saving devices to be made readily available for every out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

The move is in response to figures that show public-access defibrillators are used in less than 3% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, which the British Heart Foundation says is “significantly reducing the survival chances of tens of thousands of people every year”.

Combining their expertise in technology and healthcare, the BHF, NHS England, NHS Scotland and Microsoft solutions provider New Signature will now work together over the next 12 months to develop a comprehensive UK wide database of defibrillators across the UK that can be used by ambulance services. The pioneering project is expected to help save lives every day right across the country.

Stockport-based Cardiac Science welcomes news of the creation of a database of defibrillators

Shaun Ingram from Cardiac Science commented:

“We encourage everyone who buys a defibrillator from us – some 7,000 a year – to register them with us and we forward that information onto the local ambulance service UK-wide.

“Services we work with, like South Central Ambulance Service in Thames Valley, have gone further by creating a ‘Save A Life’ app to show people where defibs are for their area.  But clearly it is time for a centralised database which all services can access and direct people to. Speed of response is so important after a sudden cardiac arrest.  Anything that helps people locate a defib quickly is to be applauded and we will be playing a full role in making sure the database scheme is a success.”

Image: Picture by Dave Thompson/Route One Photography – 07711 459404