A new analysis by the Heart Restart campaign examining publicly available defibrillator locations has identified significant gaps in access to emergency cardiac care across England and Wales. The research found that more than 16 million residents live farther than a 1km round trip from the nearest continuously accessible defibrillator, a distance that typically exceeds the 10-minute window critical for survival during cardiac arrest. Overall, 35 million people—representing more than half the population—lack access to a defibrillator within the recommended three- to five-minute brisk walk.
The findings reveal stark disparities in geographic coverage. Of the 318 local authority areas examined, 264 had more than half their residents positioned beyond recommended defibrillator proximity. Some areas show particularly severe shortages, with Harlow reporting that over 70% of residents live at least 10 minutes away from a 24/7 defibrillator, while Birmingham has nearly half a million people residing more than 500 metres from the nearest accessible unit. Conversely, the City of London ensures all residents have adequate access, and Hartlepool reaches 77% coverage within recommended distances.
Medical experts emphasize the urgency of expanding access. According to available data, more than 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually in the UK, yet fewer than one in 10 people survive. Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation combined with defibrillation can more than double survival chances, with survival rates declining by up to 10% for every minute without treatment.
In response to these findings, the British Heart Foundation has announced a campaign offering 400 community defibrillators to local areas, targeting regions identified as having the worst access, including Barking and Dagenham, Liverpool, Southampton, Nottingham, Wrexham, Newport, and parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Policymakers and health advocates have called for government support, including potential removal of value-added tax on defibrillators and related equipment to reduce installation costs and expand community access to these lifesaving devices.
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