Community defibrillator groups across the North East have been urged to register their devices on a UK-wide network.
The Circuit allows ambulance dispatchers in all parts of the country to point emergency callers to the nearest unit, regardless of where they are calling from.
British Heart Foundation, in partnership with the Resuscitation Council UK and the Scottish Ambulance Service north of the border, hope the register will improve the current one-in-10 rate at which defibrillators are used in cardiac arrests outside hospitals.
I have led calls for the creation of a Scottish network after hearing emergency services often didn’t have any details of defibrillators close to callers.
When someone unfortunately suffers cardiac arrest, every second counts.
Many life-saving pieces of kit are in shopping centres, schools and libraries across the North East, and greatly improve the chances of a patient surviving long enough for an ambulance to arrive.
This is particularly important now because of the challenges faced by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
In 2017 I was shocked to find out that there was no joined-up way for 999 staff to help find these devices, and followed this up with the Scottish Government.
So I am delighted that the BHF and partners are campaigning to see this change made.
Those who take care of public access defibrillators can register with the Circuit by visiting http://www.bhf.org.uk/.../national-defibrillator-network...