Analysis by the Heart Restart campaign reveals significant gaps in defibrillator availability across England and Wales. The research found that more than 16 million residents live farther than a 1km round trip from the nearest 24/7 defibrillator, while 35 million people—representing more than half the population—do not live within the recommended three to five-minute walking distance of such a device.
Cardiac arrest survival depends critically on rapid access to emergency treatment. The UK experiences more than 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually, yet fewer than one in 10 people survive. When early cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation are administered promptly, survival chances more than double. However, patients who do not receive treatment within 10 minutes face a highly elevated risk of death.
The research identified substantial geographical disparities in access. In 264 of 318 local authority areas examined, more than half of residents lack the recommended proximity to a defibrillator. Some areas face particularly acute shortages: in Harlow, over 70% of residents live at least 10 minutes away from a publicly available 24/7 defibrillator, while Birmingham has nearly half a million residents more than 500 metres from the nearest such device. Conversely, the City of London ensures all residents have adequate access, and 77% of Hartlepool residents meet the recommended distance threshold.
The British Heart Foundation has launched a community defibrillator campaign, distributing 400 devices to areas identified as having the greatest need. Regions with significant defibrillator shortages include Barking and Dagenham, Liverpool, Southampton, Nottingham, Wrexham, and Newport, alongside parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Healthcare officials and policymakers have emphasized that proximity to defibrillators directly impacts survival outcomes, with some calling for government support such as removing VAT on defibrillator equipment to reduce installation costs.
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