Defibrillator 24 hours a day emergency access for the whole community

Following an initial idea from Emma Jones, Practice Manager at Hucclecote Surgery, residents and visitors to the area now have round-<wbr>the-<wbr>clock access to a community defibrillator, intended for emergency use in treating a victim of cardiac arrest. Emma's suggestion was taken up with great enthusiasm by the Patient's Participation Group (PPG) at Hucclecote Surgery and earlier this year it was agreed to start fundraising. Thanks to a very generous donation from a local resident and patient, together with donations from Hucclecote Community Association and support from David Brown, County Councillor for Barnwood & Hucclecote, plans quickly progressed. David told Spotlight, "I think it is so important that these devices are more widely available for emergency use and when, as a member of the PPG, I heard about Emma's idea I was happy to support an application for funding via the Members' Community Fund. Over recent months members of the PPG have put in a tremendous effort to find a quality defibrillator that is easy to use and can be stored securely but at the same time be accessible to all residents for emergency use." Allan Murgatroyd, Chair of the local PPG said, "we have taken expert advice from the South Western Ambulance Service Trust and selected a model that leads anyone using it through the process with recorded verbal instructions, making it very easy to use, even in a stressful situation. I am grateful to Lloyds Chemist for providing a highly visible location to secure it on their front wall. If the device is needed in an emergency then users will need to call 999 and follow brief instructions allowing them to release the defibrillator." Lib Dem City Councillor Joanne Brown said, "We need more of these life-<wbr>saving devices in the area and I will work hard with organisations like the South Western Ambulance Service Trust to make sure that happens. "This is especially important as in order for the emergency services to notify 999 callers that a defibrillator is available there is a need for the caller to be within 200 metres of the defibrillator."