The UK’s “Defibrillator Deserts”

Find out where the UK’s defibrillator deserts are and how your community can improve survival rates with AEDs and CPR training.

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When Every Second Counts

In the UK, over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year. Yet survival rates remain under 10 per cent. One reason is the lack of publicly accessible defibrillators in many communities. These areas, known as “defibrillator deserts”, have no registered devices that can be used in an emergency.

Recently, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) highlighted the UK’s worst affected areas. This has sparked urgent calls for action to improve access and save lives.

What Are “Defibrillator Deserts”?

Defibrillator deserts are areas with no publicly registered automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on The Circuit, the UK’s national defibrillator network.

This means that in the event of a cardiac arrest, bystanders cannot quickly locate and use an AED while waiting for emergency services. With ambulance delays increasing in many regions, immediate access to an AED is critical. Every minute without defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by 10 per cent.

Where Are the UK’s Worst Defibrillator Deserts?

The BHF has identified ten UK communities where no public defibrillators are currently registered:

Country Location Area
England Holme Hill Grimsby
England Ravensthorpe Dewsbury
England Mixenden Halifax
England Revoe Blackpool
Wales Gabalfa Cardiff
Wales Trevethin Pontypool
Scotland Hillhead Kilmarnock
Scotland Broomhill Greenock
Northern Ireland Twinbrook Dunmurry
Northern Ireland Lagan Valley Lisburn

These communities are among the UK’s most deprived, highlighting the link between health inequalities and access to lifesaving equipment (Source: British Heart Foundation).

Why This Matters

The NHS continues to face significant challenges in providing timely heart care:

  • Over 414,000 patients in England are waiting for cardiac treatment (Source: The Guardian).

  • More than 10,800 people have been waiting over 12 months.

  • Ambulance response times for Category 2 emergencies, including heart attacks, are averaging 36 minutes, which is double the target (Source: The Times).

Without easy access to defibrillators, survival rates are significantly reduced.

The BHF Community Defibrillator Fund

To tackle these defibrillator deserts, the British Heart Foundation has relaunched its Community Defibrillator Funding Programme. This initiative helps community groups install AEDs and provides training to ensure residents are prepared to act during a cardiac emergency.

Sam Kennard, Community Defibrillator Manager at the BHF, said:

“Defibrillators save lives and make communities safer. With our funding programme, we aim to bring AEDs to the areas where they are needed most.”

What Can Communities Do?

There are key steps every community can take to reduce their risk:

  1. Install public access defibrillators and register them on The Circuit.

  2. Apply for BHF funding to help cover costs.

  3. Offer CPR training to empower locals with lifesaving skills.

  4. Raise awareness about where defibrillators are located in your area.

Supporting Communities with Defib Supplies

At Defib Supplies, we are committed to helping every community become heart safe. We supply a full range of defibrillators, AED accessories, and training support to ensure your equipment is ready when needed.

Whether you are looking for advice on funding, installation, or maintenance, our team is here to help.

Take Action Today

A cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, at any time. By equipping your community with a defibrillator and promoting CPR training, you can give someone the best possible chance of survival.

Explore our defibrillator range or contact us to find out how we can support your community.

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