Electrocardiogram Screening

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd April 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

That is a really good point. The use of automated external defibrillators or the mobile defibrillators that the noble Lord referred to can make a huge difference. In preparation for this Question, I asked how many clubs apply for them through the Sport England funding. It is possible for people to do so, but the numbers are relatively low, in my view. Other organisations and charities fund defibrillators as well. From a DHSC perspective, I understand that the department has put forward funding of £500,000 from August last year to help facilitate the further rollout of defibrillators. They are a vital tool in saving lives in this area.

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con)]

My Lords, I congratulate the Minister on adding heritage and libraries to her ministerial responsibilities. Clearly, widening access to testing equipment, as well as to resuscitative equipment and properly trained people who can interpret the results, is important in preventing the sorts of sudden bereavements that the Nicholls family sustained, sadly. Will the Government continue to work with organisations such as Cardiac Risk in the Young to help them form partnerships with sports organisations, both amateur and professional, to identify where this testing and resuscitative equipment is, and make sure there are no gaps for young people who take part in sport?