MORE than 80 defibrillators have been installed in rural parts of North Yorkshire over the past two years - with the help of local fundraising and health organisations.

Access to defibrillators in Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby has increased considerably following increased community funding and support from NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) NHS Trust.

The two organisations have worked with local communities to install the life-saving equipment in rural communities.

The CCG says the chances of a person’s survival if they have suffered a cardiac arrest is greatly increased if with early resuscitation and defibrillation

A defibrillator gives a high energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall to someone and can be used by any member of the public, without training, on a person whose heart has stopped.

The CCG says once 999 has been called and CPR started on someone who has experienced cardiac arrest, the telephonist will advise on the availability of a local defibrillator and access code to the box.

Dr Charles Parker, local GP and CCG Clinical Chair said: “Two years ago, there were hardly any defibrillators accessible by our very rural communities. This meant that the crucial early stage in saving a patient’s life was a little more difficult as ambulances have further to travel.

“These defibrillators are part of the portfolio of measures the CCG is undertaking to help improve the quality of outcomes for patients following emergency care.

“The CCG is really grateful to communities for coming together and raising money to install these life-saving devices and has been pleased to part and fully fund defibrillators in our very rural areas.”

Since the installation of these devices, three have been used on separate occasions. Two of these occasions saw the defibrillators used by members of the public using just the instructions and 999 support.

Paul Stevens, head of community resilience at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “We know that in many medical emergencies the first few minutes are critical and if effective treatment can be performed within those minutes, lives can be saved and disability reduced."

Although defibrillators are a potentially life-saving resource, they can only be used by calling 999 in a medical emergency and on instruction from the ambulance call centre. Training is not needed as the devices provide clear step-by-step instructions.

Residents across Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby areas who are interested in having a defibrillator installed into their local community can contact John Darley, delivery manager at the CCG by calling 01609-767600 or emailing hrwccg.hrwccgenquiries@nhs.net