New public access defibrillator installed at Mark House site

A new public access defibrillator has been installed at the car park at the Old Mark House site, helping to improve access to potentially lifesaving equipment for local residents, workers and visitors.

BEC has supported the installation, with our Project Manager, Andrea, helping to coordinate and support the project, ensuring the new defibrillator could be installed at this accessible location.

The defibrillator is available for use in an emergency and is accessible 24 hours a day, providing an important addition to the community’s emergency response provision.

Improving access to lifesaving equipment

When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, every minute matters. Early CPR and rapid access to a defibrillator can play a critical role in helping to improve the chances of survival.

This new defibrillator forms part of a wider programme to increase access to community public-access defibrillators in areas where there is a demonstrated need.

The project has been delivered through a partnership involving Sellafield Ltd’s SiX (Social Impact, Multiplied) funding programme, North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust and North West Ambulance Charity.

Putting community need at the heart of the project

The installation has been informed by evidence around cardiac-arrest demand, existing defibrillator coverage and local health needs.

Megan Stephenson, Cardiac Arrest Project Lead at North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said:

“I am proud to have led this project, bringing partners together to place lifesaving equipment in a busy, accessible location where it will be available 24/7 to residents, workers and visitors.

“Our aim is not simply to increase the number of defibrillators; it is to use health data, cardiac-arrest demand and existing coverage to identify where new provision can have the greatest impact.

“Every minute matters during a cardiac arrest, so improving access to defibrillators and giving communities the confidence to use them can make a critical difference.”

Working together for healthier communities

At BEC, we recognise the importance of creating places that support the wellbeing and resilience of the communities we serve.

We are pleased to have supported this project and to have played a role in helping make potentially lifesaving equipment available at the Mark House site, whenever it is needed.