Sir Gavin Williamson highlighted the work of Staffordshire charity AED Donate during a parliamentary debate on access to defibrillators.
During the debate, Sir Gavin called on the Government to support the work of charitable organisations such as AED Donate, asking the Minister for Health and Secondary Care, Andrew Stephenson, if he would meet with officials from the charity to discuss how to deliver the Department’s aims for increasing access to defibrillators.
A report from the National Institute for Health and Care Research demonstrated the need for better access, as it found that only 8% of people suffering a heart attack outside of hospital survive. However, with access to an automated external defibrillator, the odds of survival increase to 32%.
Sir Gavin is a longstanding supporter of Staffordshire-based defibrillator charity AED Donate. He has worked with the founder, Jamie Richards, to push for the Government to ensure all defibrillators are registered with emergency services. He also supported the team’s nomination for a King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Sir Gavin said: “I was glad to be able to speak up about the work of charities like AED Donate. Access to a defibrillator could mean the difference between life and death, and it is vital that we support the charities that work hard to ensure we are all within critical distance of a defibrillator should we ever need one.”
