East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust invests £1m in defibrillators for community

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has unveiled plans to place 1,000 new defibrillators across the east of England.

The investment, which will cost just under £1 million, will see public buildings such as sports centres, village halls and libraries across the six counties EEAST serves, receiving the lifesaving devices.

Distribution of the defibrillators has already begun, and it is hoped that all 1,000 devices will be in position by the end of March.

The Trust is aware of more than 300 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) across the region that can be accessed by a member of staff or the public when they go into cardiac arrest.

North Norfolk is receiving the first 50 defibrillators, another 20 are going into Suffolk, and 40 are being sent out across North Essex. Another 30 are going into Cambridgeshire and 10 in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

Locations for the remaining devices will be unveiled in due course.

Anthony Marsh, chief executive of EEAST, said:

‘I’m delighted that we have started this important project to invest in the communities we serve by improving access to these lifesaving devices in key locations.

Taken from Journal of Paramedic Practice, published 17 February 2015.