Recurring concern
Unreliable availability and readiness of defibrillators for emergency response
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Request correctionFirst reported 30 Aug 2013•Latest report 8 May 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures of dedicated arrangements to provide, position, maintain, check, equip, access or promptly deploy defibrillators for emergency response, including absence at a required location, missing batteries or pads, delayed replacement, unreliable readiness status, and failures that prevent the device from being used when needed.
Not included
- Excludes staff training or familiarisation deficiencies where the defibrillator was available and ready and the unsafe condition is solely operator competence; use the existing defibrillator-use training concern where applicable.
- Excludes CPR, first-aid or broader resuscitation-performance failures not involving the availability, readiness or deployment of a defibrillator.
- Excludes general clinical-equipment shortages or maintenance failures not specifically involving defibrillator readiness or emergency access.
- Excludes downstream clinical treatment or emergency-service delays after a functioning defibrillator was available and appropriately deployed.
- Reports
- 21
- Individual concerns
- 22
- Date range
- 2013–2026
- Stated actions
- 15
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Unavailability of a defibrillator on site
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Require providers to assess AED need and provide, maintain and govern AED equipment with appropriate staff training.
Stated by NHS South West London Integrated Care Board -
Action
Purchase and install an AED at Roy Kinnear House.
Stated by Choice Support
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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Position
Oversight of AED defibrillators in healthcare settings is assigned to the Care Quality Commission.
Stated by NHS England
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Position
AEDs are not routinely installed across services; installation is determined through service-specific risk assessment and governance processes.
Stated by Choice Support
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Concerns raised1
Delay in obtaining and attaching the defibrillator
This report raised 30 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Undertake medical-emergency simulations every three months in inpatient settings and record them using the approved report.
Stated by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Introduce Resus Link Practitioners across inpatient wards to support simulations, equipment readiness, life-support training, audit and dissemination of updates.
Stated by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Unavailability of a defibrillator at the hostel
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Review potential expansion of defibrillator access, including locations, acquisition criteria, local-authority offers and possible purchases.
Stated by St Mungo’s Community Housing Association
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Concerns raised1
Unavailability of a defibrillator for attempted resuscitation in the care home
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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Position
Requiring care homes to install defibrillators falls outside the regulator’s role and remit.
Stated by Care Quality Commission
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Position
Care providers are responsible for deciding how to deliver care safely and demonstrating compliance to the regulator.
Stated by Care Quality Commission -
Position
Without defibrillators, suitable resuscitation policies, procedures and trained staff are considered an appropriate alternative.
Stated by Care Quality Commission
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Concerns raised1
Failure of AED internal clocks to function
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
The AED internal clocks are functioning; although they cannot be reset to Greenwich Mean Time, each activation records a timed event log.
Stated by Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Unavailability of a defibrillator for dive support staff on safety boats or land
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Ensure all ab initio high-risk dive training sites have a defibrillator available at immediate notice.
Stated by Ministry of Defence
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Concerns raised1
Unavailability of a defibrillator on site
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Seek quotations for purchasing a permanently located on-site defibrillator.
Stated by Hibiscus Housing Association Limited
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient availability of AEDs in key site areas
This report raised 13 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure timely availability of a defibrillator at the emergency location
This report raised 11 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Absence of a defibrillator at Marshalls Arts College
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026