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Defibrillators: Emergency Services

Asked by Steve DarlingLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 23 January 2025UIN 24530

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to require all emergency service vehicles to have defibrillators.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne

The Government is committed to improving access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces, and reducing inequalities in access to these life saving devices. We have made a further £500,000 available from August 2024 to fulfil existing applications to the Department’s Community AED Fund. The criteria specified for the original grant continues to apply and will go to applications for AEDs in areas of England where there is the greatest need, including in areas of high footfall, hot spots for cardiac arrest, and areas that already have low access to AEDs.

Department ministers regularly have discussions with colleagues across Government on issues of cross-departmental interest.

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