Recurring concern
Unreliable availability and readiness of defibrillators for emergency response
- Reports that mention this concern
- 21
- Times this concern has been raised
- 22
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 15
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.
What is 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.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, 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.
Reports and published responses 21 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
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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.
Linked responses
- Choice Support
- NHS England
- NHS South West London Integrated Care Board
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
-
NHS South West London Integrated Care Board
Require providers to assess AED need and provide, maintain and govern AED equipment with appropriate staff training.
-
Choice Support
Purchase and install an AED at Roy Kinnear House.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
-
NHS England
Oversight of AED defibrillators in healthcare settings is assigned to the Care Quality Commission.
-
Choice Support
AEDs are not routinely installed across services; installation is determined through service-specific risk assessment and governance processes.
-
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.
Linked response
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
-
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Undertake medical-emergency simulations every three months in inpatient settings and record them using the approved report.
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Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Introduce Resus Link Practitioners across inpatient wards to support simulations, equipment readiness, life-support training, audit and dissemination of updates.
-
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.
Linked response
- St Mungo’s Community Housing Association
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
St Mungo’s Community Housing Association
Review potential expansion of defibrillator access, including locations, acquisition criteria, local-authority offers and possible purchases.
-
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.
Linked response
- Care Quality Commission
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
-
Care Quality Commission
Requiring care homes to install defibrillators falls outside the regulator’s role and remit.
-
Care Quality Commission
Care providers are responsible for deciding how to deliver care safely and demonstrating compliance to the regulator.
-
Care Quality Commission
Without defibrillators, suitable resuscitation policies, procedures and trained staff are considered an appropriate alternative.
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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.
Linked response
- Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
The AED internal clocks are functioning; although they cannot be reset to Greenwich Mean Time, each activation records a timed event log.
-
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.
Linked response
- Ministry of Defence
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
Ministry of Defence
Ensure all ab initio high-risk dive training sites have a defibrillator available at immediate notice.
-
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.
Linked response
- Hibiscus Housing Association Limited
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
Hibiscus Housing Association Limited
Seek quotations for purchasing a permanently located on-site defibrillator.
-
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.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
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.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Absence of a defibrillator at Marshalls Arts College
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026