Defibrillators in Havering

Download (PDF 714.8 KB)

Summary of report content

Healthwatch Havering reviewed local access to defibrillators across the borough. They used information from The Circuit's database about the location of registered defibrillators locally.  Of the 220 defibrillators in the borough, they visited a sample of 50.

The review found that most defibrillator locations in Havering were accurate and accessible within the time frames stated on The Circuit but it was noticeable that not all defibrillators were registered on The Circuit and there was a lack of appropriate signage at locations or within buildings. Furthermore, there was a low number of defibrillators available at all times, particularly within residential areas. There was also confusion over what equipment needs to be with a defibrillator and about the need for checking equipment and having it in the care of a custodian responsible for looking after it.

The partner organisations behind The Circuit are firmly in favour of there being the widest possible spread of publicly accessible and useable defibrillators – indeed, the Resuscitation Council “strongly recommends” registration. To achieve that aim, it is obvious that there needs to be an accurate, accessible and comprehensive information database of defibrillator locations and access availability within the community, including locations within buildings. This will only be achieved comprehensively through regulation at national level, although local publicity may help improve the situation locally.

Where defibrillators are publicly available, they need to be identified by appropriate and accurate signage, both inside and outside of the building they are in and ideally located where they can be accessed with the minimum of delay. Clearly, considerations of cost preclude the widespread distribution of defibrillators on the street. But the fact that at least 220 are known to be at various locations in the borough suggests that a greater effort to ask those in possession of a defibrillator to advertise their presence and availability, and to relocate them to a position that is easily accessible, would greatly improve the chances of one being obtained when needed. 

Havering Council and the Place based Partnership can assist in arranging the wide-spread publicity that will be needed to achieve this. A similar campaign by the London Ambulance Service London-wide is already in place to help improve the availability of defibrillators across London. Whilst it is understandable that, given the risk of theft or vandalism, many owners of defibrillators and their cabinets would want them locked, any publicity should suggest that they should be freely accessible.

Would you like to look at:

General details

Local Healthwatch
Healthwatch Havering
Publication date
Key themes
Access to services
Service organisation, delivery, change and closure
Written information, guidance and publicity

Methodology and approach

Was the work undertaken in partnership with another organisation?
No
Primary research method used
Mystery shopping
If an Enter and View methodology was applied, was the visit announced or unannounced?
N/A
Did you find this attached report useful?
0
No votes have been submitted yet.