Millions in England and Wales Live Too Far From Lifesaving Defibrillators, Study Finds

Millions of people across England and Wales could face a greater risk of dying from sudden cardiac arrest because they live too far from a publicly accessible defibrillator, according to new research highlighting major gaps in emergency heart care.

An analysis by the Heart Restart campaign found that more than 16 million people live farther than a 1-kilometre round trip from the nearest defibrillator that is available around the clock. The findings raise concerns that many patients may be unable to receive lifesaving treatment within the crucial first minutes after a cardiac arrest.

The study also revealed that around 35 million people—more than half the population of England and Wales—do not live within the recommended three- to five-minute brisk walking distance of a publicly accessible defibrillator.

Cardiac arrest is one of the most time-sensitive medical emergencies. Across the UK, more than 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur every year, yet fewer than one in 10 patients survive.

Medical experts say early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), combined with rapid use of a defibrillator, can more than double a person's chances of survival. However, if treatment is delayed beyond approximately 10 minutes, survival becomes increasingly unlikely.

Researchers found that, apart from the City of London, every local authority in England and Wales has residents who are at least a 10-minute round trip away from a 24-hour accessible defibrillator.

The report examined 318 local authority areas and found that 264 of them have more than half of their residents living beyond the recommended three- to five-minute access range.

Some areas were identified as particularly underserved.

In Harlow, more than 70% of residents are over 10 minutes away from the nearest publicly accessible 24/7 defibrillator. Meanwhile, in Birmingham, nearly 500,000 people live more than 500 metres from the closest device.

By comparison, every resident in the City of London is within the recommended response distance, while 77% of people in Hartlepool also have access within the target walking time.

In response to the findings, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has launched a nationwide initiative offering 400 new community defibrillators that will be available around the clock.

The charity identified several areas with significant shortages—described as "defibrillator deserts"—including Barking and Dagenham, Liverpool, Southampton, Nottingham, Wrexham, Newport, as well as parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

These communities were highlighted because they combine longer travel distances to defibrillators with higher population density and greater levels of deprivation.

Sam Kennard, Community Defibrillator Manager at the British Heart Foundation, said every second matters when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. He warned that survival chances can fall by up to 10% for every minute without CPR and defibrillation, making nearby access to these devices essential.

Adam Benson Clarke, Clinical Director at Resuscitation Council UK, said nobody's chances of survival should depend on where they live, adding that placing defibrillators in underserved communities could save many lives.

David Stockdale, Chief Executive of the British Healthcare Trades Association, said the research demonstrates that postcode inequalities continue to influence survival outcomes, despite the proven effectiveness of defibrillators.

Liberal Democrat MP Luke Taylor, who supports improved access to community defibrillators, described the findings as alarming. He urged the government to remove VAT on defibrillators, replacement pads and batteries, arguing that lower costs would help more communities install lifesaving equipment where it is needed most.

The report underscores the importance of expanding public access to defibrillators while encouraging greater awareness of CPR training. Health campaigners believe that improving both access to equipment and emergency response knowledge could significantly increase survival rates from cardiac arrest across the UK.