Decision details

The Director of Adults and Health submitted a report which outlined the benefits associated with Community Public Access Defibrillators (CPADs) and provided details of the current provision of them across the city. The report also sought a number of approvals including the proposed approach towards the allocation of CPADs, the raising of community awareness and the training of communities on Basic Life Support and the use of the CPADs.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Khan to the meeting. Councillor Khan had been invited to attend the Board on behalf of Councillor R Charlwood, who had submitted her apologies for absence from the meeting. Councillor Khan introduced the submitted report to the Board.

Responding to a Member’s enquiry regarding the recommended distances between defibrillator locations, the Board was advised that the relevant guidance had been taken into account when considering the location of CPADs within Wards, and that the identification of Wards had been based upon ensuring that each Ward had a minimum of 4, with additional allocation to those Wards judged to have a higher need based upon the criteria used. It was also noted that the location of CPADs within Wards would be determined in collaboration with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Ward Members.

The Board also acknowledged the importance of the work which continued to take place across the city via a range of organisations and sectors to enhance the provision of defibrillators in their local area, which complemented the CPAD programme. A Member highlighted their hope that in addition to the CPAD initiative, liaison would take place with organisations who were putting defibrillators in place in the future so that the public accessibility of those units was maximised.

The importance of the awareness raising and training proposed as part of the CPAD programme was also emphasised.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the submitted report, be noted;

(b)  That the proposed allocation of 54 Community Public Access Defibrillators to ensure that every Ward has a minimum of 4, with additional allocation to Wards with highest cardiac arrest and low bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation rates and highest early deaths from circulatory disease, be agreed;

(c)  That the approach to allocate a short term project support worker, working with the Communities and Environment directorate to support: the allocation of the Community Public Access Defibrillators, community awareness raising and training through the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, be agreed;

(d)  That it be noted that the Communities and Environment directorate will lead the implementation of the programme, working closely with Ward Members and with advice and guidance from the Adults and Health directorate.