Efforts to close dangerous gaps in access to life-saving defibrillators across London have received a significant boost, after the British Heart Foundation (BHF) donated 18 devices to support a campaign led by London Ambulance Charity.
The defibrillators will be installed in parts of the capital with little or no existing access to the equipment – areas often referred to as ‘defib deserts’ – where survival rates from cardiac arrest are lowest and health inequalities are most pronounced.
The donation supports London Heart Starters, a campaign launched by London Ambulance Charity to fund and install hundreds of additional public-access defibrillators across the city. The devices deliver an electric shock that can restart the heart during a cardiac arrest, buying crucial time until emergency services arrive.
The need is stark. Last year, London Ambulance Service attended more than 12,200 cardiac arrests, with fewer than one in ten patients surviving. Evidence shows that early CPR and rapid access to a defibrillator can more than double a person’s chances of survival when a cardiac arrest happens outside hospital.
Jess Burgess, Head of London Ambulance Charity, said the partnership with the BHF would help address both survival rates and long-standing inequalities.
“We are incredibly grateful that the British Heart Foundation has donated these defibrillators and joined us in our mission to save more lives.
“All Londoners deserve a fighting chance of surviving a cardiac arrest. The Heart Starters campaign is about closing gaps between neighbourhoods and ensuring that access to life-saving equipment is not determined by postcode.”
She also urged Londoners to get involved, whether by fundraising or acting as local guardians to help keep community defibrillators accessible and ready for use.
The BHF’s support comes through its Community Defibrillator Funding Programme, which prioritises areas with the greatest need. This year, the programme is funding 400 defibrillator packages nationwide.
Sam Kennard, Community Defibrillator Manager at the BHF, said access remained uneven despite recent progress.
“Every defibrillator has the power to save a life. When someone has a cardiac arrest, every second counts, and quick access to defibrillation can more than double survival chances.
“While we’ve made headway, too many communities still lack access. This programme is about putting defibrillators where they will make the biggest difference.”
The Heart Starters campaign has already attracted substantial backing. In October, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, donated £150,000, helping the charity reach its target of installing 200 defibrillators in high-need areas. Earlier funding of £142,000 from NHS Charities Together further accelerated the rollout, while Transport for London has provided devices now installed in homeless shelters across the capital.
London Ambulance Charity continues to raise funds to expand the programme, with opportunities ranging from donating or sponsoring a defibrillator to taking part in fundraising events – including the Big Stadium Abseil at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this March.
