Revealed: Poorest postcodes have far fewer life-saving defibrillators
People living in Scotland’s richest areas have nearly 10 times as many defibrillators as those in the most deprived, we can reveal today.
Experts confirm the figures collected by The Sunday Post and warn deprived areas – where people were more likely to suffer cardiac arrest – are far less likely to have the life-saving devices.
One of the country’s most deprived areas – Ferguslie Park, Paisley – only had two defibrillators while the Kingsborough Gardens area, one of the most desirable addresses in Glasgow’s West End, had 10.
Another area of high deprivation, Bonhill, West Dunbartonshire, has one public defibrillator while Morningside, Edinburgh, has nine.
Dr Terry Brown, of Warwick University, has researched the location of defibrillators across the country and links to economic and social deprivation.
He said: “This can be a postcode lottery. People will buy a defibrillator because someone they know died from cardiac arrest. When there are mass purchases, there has previously been no co-ordination on who applies for them and where they are put. People who apply for funding tend to come from more affluent areas.
“The irony is that cardiac arrests occur more often in deprived areas but defibrillators are more likely to be found in areas where the population is more affluent, predominantly identify as white ethnic, and with high socio-economic occupations. With these devices, the survival rate can more than double. Cardiac arrest rates are higher in more deprived areas with higher population density with a higher proportion of people from ethnic minorities.
“But defibrillators tend to be in areas with lower population density, with lower deprivation and a smaller proportion of people from ethnic minorities.”
We found there are 5,435 registered defibrillators in Scotland – equivalent to an average of one for every 1,000 people. There are around 3,200 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year and only one in 10 people survive.
Each of the 14 ambulance services across the UK has its own defibrillator database. The Circuit national defibrillator network brings this information together into one database.
Last month, an MSP called for the UK to follow the Irish government by dropping VAT on defibrillators. Jenni Minto, MSP for Argyll and Bute, made the appeal after the Republic of Ireland’s minister for finance announced the equipment will be exempt from VAT from next year.
Defibrillators are currently subject to a 20% tax. The VAT does not apply to councils and charities but Minto fears the added cost could deter individuals, businesses or community groups.
The Scottish Government said: “We are focused on ensuring defibrillators are publicly accessible and registered with the Scottish Ambulance Service.
“There are currently more than 3,700 defibrillators registered for use in communities across Scotland. We are committed to improving survival rates from cardiac arrest through our involvement in the Save a Life for Scotland Partnership.”