Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Defib school risk
MP fears supply hitches could threaten target to provide 20,000 more devices
SHORTAGES of parts could scupper plans to put defibrillators in all English state schools by next June, MPS will warn today.
More than 20,000 of the life-savers are still needed to meet the target.
But there are global supply chain issues around replacement pads and batteries.
Labour frontbencher Stephanie Peacock called the supply situation “an emergency”.
Tory ex-schools Minister Jonathan Gullis warned lives could be lost if the devices aren’t available. “This could happen to anyone at any time,” he said.
More than 30,000 people suffer cardiac arrests outside hospital every year in the UK. Just one in 10 survive. Public defibrillators, which deliver a shock to restart the heart, are used in less than a tenth of cases, says the British Heart Foundation. Research shows using a defib within five minutes raises the chance of survival by more than 40%.
Mr Gullis, a former teacher who will chair a new parliamentary group on defibs, told the Mirror: “There’s a fear that whilst you have supply shortages... on top of a huge order... is that target going to be hit?”
Mr Gullis called for better first aid training in schools and is keen to organise demonstrations in
Parliament on using the devices. He added: “It’s super important the Department for Education doesn’t lose sight of this important challenge it set itself.” He praised the Mirror campaign to ensure defibs are available in public buildings, saying: “Thank you for being such a great champion.”
Cross-party MPS are launching a public inquiry into the shortages. But the Department for Education insisted: “We are aware of the shortage of parts and have been assured by our supplier it will not delay this crucial programme.”
DEFIBRILLATORS SAVE LIVES