Whilst serving as Financial Secretary to the Treasury, I was pleased to work on government funding for a community defibrillator scheme.
Public access to defibrillators is critical to ensuring that those who suffer cardiac arrest have the best chance of survival. The latest research shows that accessing these devices within 3-5 minutes of a cardiac arrest increases the chance of survival by over 40%.
There are now 53,715 registered defibrillators across the UK and this number is increasing by approximately 500 per week. Last October, the Wentworth Books & Boxes Committee officially unveiled the village’s new Community Defibrillator, located in Wentworth Telephone Box. This was made possible thanks to the generous donations made by Sanctuary Housing, AgReserves and CBE Ltd Electrical Services, as well as the support of Wentworth Parish Council.
There are defibrillators across the local area, including this one in Ely.
To find other registered defibrillators in our area, visit www.defibfinder.uk.
The government is also delivering on its commitment to ensuring that every school in the UK has a defibrillator. The first defibrillators were issued to schools on 20 January marking the start of a roll out of over 20,000 devices to almost 18,000 state-funded schools in England. The rollout is expected to be complete by the end of the academic year.
More information about the £1 million community fund that will help to expand defibrillator access in local communities will be announced by the Department for Health & Social Care in due course and I will keep constituents updated as to how community organisations can apply for funding.
