Data reveals neighbourhoods most in need of lifesaving defibrillators

New data from London Ambulance Service (LAS) reveals the 150 neighbourhoods across the capital in greatest need of lifesaving defibrillators.

When someone suffers a cardiac arrest – which is when the heart stops beating – the use of a defibrillator gives them the best chance of surviving.

But new analysis from the LAS shows 21 neighbourhoods where there is no access to a defibrillator, and 129 neighbourhoods where there is limited access for the population nearby.

Wandsworth comes fourth in the capital with eight priority neighbourhoods – behind Ealing, Barnet and Brent with 10.

This means, there is no or limited access to a defibrillator in Tooting North, Earlsfield North, West Hill South, York Gardens, Clapham Common West, Furzedown West, Furzedown East and Tooting West.

In Lambeth there are six priority neighborhoods, with limited access to defibrillators in Streatham Vale, Loughborough Road, Tulse Hill, Stockwell North, Leigham Vale and Royal Circus, and West Norwood West and Streatham East.

These figures stand in stark contrast to areas like Kensington and Chelsea where there are no priority neighbourhoods in the whole borough.

The LAS said the data shows that households in deprived areas are more likely to have limited access to a defibrillator.

This comes as the LAS marks the start of a new fundraising campaign to fund and maintain additional defibrillators in the 150 communities where they are needed most.

Consultant Paramedic Mark Faulkner said: “At the moment only eight per cent of Londoners survive a cardiac arrest if it happens outside of hospital.

“While there are more than 9,400 publicly accessible defibrillators in London, our analysis shows that there are fewest in areas with the highest levels of deprivation and poorest health outcomes.

“We want Londoners, regardless of where they live, to have a fighting chance to survive a cardiac arrest. This is why the London Ambulance Charity’s London Heart Starters campaign is so vital.”

Please visit the charity website to register for the London Life Hike, or email the charity team at londamb.lascharity@nhs.net for more information.

Pictured top: Paramedic Sydney with public access defibrillator (Picture: LAS)

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