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Written question asked by Simon Wright (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 13 January 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 15 January 2015. It was answered by David Laws (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 20 January 2015 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Schools: Defibrillators

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on making defibrillators available to all schools at a reduced price.

Answer

I am pleased to confirm that the Department for Education announced new arrangements to allow schools to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at a competitive price on 26 November 2014. They are the result of a unique agreement between the Department for Education and the Department of Health, enabling NHS Supply Chain to purchase devices in batches from approved framework suppliers via a reverse auction process. The discount achieved on each batch is then passed on to schools through a reduced unit price.

To help schools in considering whether to purchase a defibrillator, the Department for Education has also published advice on installing and maintaining AEDs on school premises. This has been developed drawing on the expertise of NHS ambulance services and voluntary and community sector organisations.

By encouraging schools across the country to acquire these potentially life-saving devices, the Department hopes to make a vital contribution to ensuring that pupils and school staff who suffer cardiac arrests whilst at school have the best possible chance of survival. I hope that as many schools as possible will take advantage of the new arrangements.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
220531
Session
2014-15
Subjects
Schools Defibrillators
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk