Health: Cardiac Arrest

Lord Allan of Hallam Excerpts

Monday 17th July 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

The noble Lord is very knowledgeable about the West Midlands. I will certainly take that specific point back to the department.

[Lord Allan of Hallam (LD)]

My Lords, building on the comments made by the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, about the importance of defibrillators, the Minister may be aware of a database called the Circuit, which has been set up by the British Heart Foundation and its partners so that people can register the defibrillators they have on their premises. The project is far from complete. What might the Government do to encourage registration of defibrillators with that service and encourage the use of the associated consumer service, www.defibfinder.uk?

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

I am most grateful to the noble Lord; as always, he asks searching questions on such matters. I have taken the time and trouble to look into the exact app. As for what the Government can do, he has already mentioned the British Heart Foundation, and we are working closely with it. Noble Lords can download the defib app to locate the nearest defib registration on the Circuit; the defibrillators will appear on it. I encourage all organisations—sports clubs, community churches, and so on and so forth—to register to be on the app. That is key. Having the defib is one thing; having it on that app is another.