Countess of Chester Hospital makes life-saving defibrillators available to the community 24/7

People living, working and visiting the Upton area will now be able to access two new public access defibrillators at the Countess of Chester Hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are located in secure external cabinets outside the Education and Training Centre and Moston Lodge, always making them publicly accessible.  

Their prominent locations ensure they are available not only to visitors and staff, but also to the many people who pass through the park every day.

The defibrillators form part of the network of Public Access Defibrillators (PADs) available across the local area and can be used by anyone in the event of a suspected cardiac arrest, with both devices specially positioned to provide access for people across the hospital site, surrounding car parks and the wider community. 

Previously located inside the Education and Training Centre and Moston Lodge, the AEDs could only be accessed during the opening hours of those buildings.  

Their relocation to external cabinets means they are now available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

Sue Pemberton, Director of Nursing & Quality and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, said: 

"Making these defibrillators publicly accessible 24 hours a day is an important step in improving emergency response for both our hospital site and the wider community.  

"Rapid access to a defibrillator can make a vital difference during a cardiac arrest, so relocating these devices into externally accessible cabinets ensures life-saving equipment is available whenever it is needed. 

"We are grateful to our charitable funds for supporting this initiative, which strengthens patient safety, supports community wellbeing and improves access to life-saving treatment for everyone,”

Every year, thousands of people suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital, where immediate treatment can make all the difference.  

According to Resuscitation Council UK, a person's chance of survival decreases with every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, while early defibrillation within three to five minutes can significantly improve survival rates. 

The newly relocated public access defibrillators are available for anyone responding to a suspected cardiac arrest.  

And whilst the cabinets are locked to protect the equipment, they are registered with the North West Ambulance Service, meaning that when a 999 call is made, call handlers can identify the nearest device and provide the access code. 

The initiative, developed by the Trust's Resuscitation Team and supported by charitable funding, forms part of the Trust's ongoing commitment to improving patient safety, supporting community wellbeing and increasing access to life-saving equipment. 

Members of the public who need to use a defibrillator in an emergency should call 999 immediately.  

Ambulance call handlers can direct callers to the nearest available device and provide instructions on how to use it. Defibrillators are designed to be used by members of the public and provide clear voice prompts to guide users through the process. 

About the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust:

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of acute and specialist services to a population of around 445,000 people across west Cheshire, Ellesmere Port, Neston and surrounding areas. The Trust employs more than 5,000 staff and works closely with partners across health and care services to provide high-quality, compassionate care for local communities. The Trust is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the population it serves through excellent patient care, innovation, research, education and continuous improvement.

The Trust operates three hospitals:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital – a 600-bed district general hospital
• Ellesmere Port Hospital – delivering outpatient, diagnostic and rehabilitation services closer to home
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital – a rural base for community teams to better serve the local population

For more information, visit the Trust website on www.coch.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on social media.

Pictured - Resuscitation Officers Jess Gould and Laura Evans.