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Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Monday, 8 September 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 September 2025. It was answered by Ashley Dalton (Labour) on Friday, 12 September 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Defibrillators: Shopping Centres

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to encourage the installation of defibrillators in all shopping centre entrances.

Answer

To improve patients' survival rates following out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, the Government committed to improving access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces and reducing inequalities in access to these life-saving devices. Following the depletion of the existing AED fund, launched in in September 2023, the Government approved a further £500,000 in August 2024 to fulfil existing applications to the fund.

Funding was allocated where there was the greatest need, for example: remote communities with extended ambulance response times; places with high footfall and high population densities; hotspots for cardiac arrest including sporting venues and venues with vulnerable people; and deprived areas.

There are no plans to undertake further work on improving access or provide additional support for AEDs, in light of the rapid expansion of AEDs across the United Kingdom. According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), there are now over 110,000 defibrillators in the UK registered on The Circuit, the independently operated national AED database.

We recognise the important work the BHF has undertaken in identifying communities with limited access to a defibrillator. The BHF undertook this work as part of its 2025 community defibrillator fund programme.

The BHF is urgently encouraging areas eligible to apply to its 2025 scheme to do so. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/defibrillators/apply-for-a-free-defibrillator-for-your-community

Like the BHF, several other UK charities provide and support access to AEDs, and in some cases provide support for their maintenance and running costs. London Hearts, AED Donate, and Community Heartbeat Trust are prominent examples working to increase the availability of AEDs.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
75588
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Shopping centres Defibrillators
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk