More than 16 million people across England and Wales are at increased risk of dying from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest because they live too far from a publicly accessible defibrillator, according to new research highlighting significant inequalities in emergency healthcare infrastructure.
The findings, published by the Heart Restart campaign, reveal that millions of residents are unable to reach a 24-hour public defibrillator within the critical timeframe required to maximise survival chances. The analysis has intensified calls for expanded investment in community defibrillators, with healthcare organisations warning that geographical disparities are leaving many communities vulnerable during life-threatening medical emergencies.
Research Highlights Widespread Defibrillator Accessibility Gaps
The Heart Restart campaign analysed the availability of publicly accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) across England and Wales using publicly available data.
Researchers found that approximately 35 million people—more than half of the combined population of England and Wales—do not live within the recommended three- to five-minute brisk walking distance from a publicly accessible defibrillator.
Of those, around 16 million residents live beyond a one-kilometre round trip from a defibrillator that is available around the clock, meaning they are unlikely to retrieve the lifesaving device and return to a patient within the critical intervention window.
Medical experts emphasise that immediate access to both cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation dramatically improves survival prospects following a cardiac arrest.
Delayed Treatment Significantly Reduces Survival Chances
Each year, more than 40,000 people across the United Kingdom suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Despite advances in emergency care, fewer than one in ten patients survive.
According to healthcare experts, every minute without CPR or defibrillation substantially reduces the likelihood of survival. In many cases, survival chances decline by as much as 10% for every minute that passes without treatment.
Patients who do not receive emergency intervention within approximately 10 minutes are highly unlikely to survive. Since retrieving a defibrillator located more than one kilometre away typically exceeds that timeframe, researchers warn that distance alone may become a decisive factor in determining patient outcomes.
The report found that, with the exception of the City of London, every local authority area included in the analysis had at least some residents living more than a 10-minute round trip from the nearest publicly available 24-hour defibrillator.
Significant Regional Disparities Exposed
The study also uncovered considerable regional inequalities in access to lifesaving equipment.
Among the 318 local authority areas analysed, 264 were found to have more than half of their populations living outside the recommended three- to five-minute walking distance from a public defibrillator.
Some areas were identified as particularly underserved.
In Harlow, more than 70% of residents reportedly live at least a 10-minute round trip away from the nearest publicly accessible 24-hour defibrillator.
Meanwhile, Birmingham—one of the UK’s largest cities—has nearly half a million residents living more than 500 metres from the nearest continuously accessible defibrillator.
By contrast, the City of London provides universal coverage, with every resident living within the recommended emergency response distance. Hartlepool also performed comparatively well, with approximately 77% of residents located within the recommended three- to five-minute walking range.
The findings suggest that postcode continues to influence emergency medical outcomes, raising concerns over unequal access to essential public health resources.
British Heart Foundation Launches Community Defibrillator Initiative
In response to the growing concerns, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has announced a nationwide initiative aimed at expanding public access to community defibrillators.
The charity is inviting communities across the United Kingdom to apply for one of 400 new publicly accessible 24-hour defibrillators.
According to the BHF, priority will be given to areas identified as “defibrillator deserts”—communities where residents face the longest travel distances to reach a defibrillator despite relatively high population density and elevated levels of socioeconomic deprivation.
Among the locations highlighted as having the greatest need are Barking and Dagenham, Liverpool, Southampton, Nottingham, Wrexham and Newport, alongside several communities in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The programme seeks to reduce geographical inequalities while improving emergency preparedness across underserved neighbourhoods.
Experts Call For Greater Investment In Lifesaving Equipment
Healthcare leaders have stressed that increasing the availability of publicly accessible defibrillators could significantly improve survival rates following cardiac arrest.
Sam Kennard, Community Defibrillator Manager at the British Heart Foundation, said immediate intervention remains the most important factor influencing survival.
He noted that every second becomes critical during a cardiac arrest and warned that the absence of a nearby defibrillator can have devastating consequences for patients and their families. Kennard emphasised the need for every community to have sufficient access to lifesaving equipment before emergencies occur.
Adam Benson Clarke, Clinical Director at Resuscitation Council UK, described cardiac arrest as one of the most time-sensitive medical emergencies.
He said rapid access to a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death, adding that no individual should face reduced survival prospects simply because of where they live.
David Stockdale, Chief Executive of the British Healthcare Trades Association, echoed those concerns, arguing that millions remain disadvantaged by inadequate access to emergency medical devices despite clear evidence that defibrillators save lives.
Calls Grow For Government Action
The research has also prompted renewed political calls to improve affordability and accessibility of community defibrillators.
Liberal Democrat MP Luke Taylor described the findings as deeply concerning, stating that millions of people currently live in what campaigners describe as “defibrillator deserts.”
Taylor urged the government to remove Value Added Tax (VAT) from defibrillators, replacement pads and batteries, arguing that reducing installation costs would enable more communities to purchase and maintain lifesaving equipment.
Campaigners believe expanding public access to defibrillators, alongside widespread CPR training and stronger community awareness, could substantially improve cardiac arrest survival rates and help ensure that emergency medical care is determined by need rather than postcode.
