Unreliable availability and readiness of defibrillators for emergency response
First to latest report 30 Aug 2013 — 8 May 2026
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.
Care Quality Commission2
NHS England2
Ayuntamiento de La Oliva1
Bourne Leisure Limited1
Care UK1
Choice Support1
Cygnet Behavioural Health Limited1
Department for Transport1
Department of Health and Social Care1
Derwent Facilities Management Limited1
DW Fitness First1
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust1
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust1
First Aid Cover Ltd1
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust1
NHS trust5
Private limited company4
Executive non-departmental public body2
Health and social care service regulator2
Ministerial department2
Registered provider of social housing2
Company1
Company limited by guarantee1
Court1
Domiciliary care provider1
English metropolitan district council1
Executive agency1
Health and care professional regulator1
Healthcare site1
Integrated care board1
Reports and published responses 21 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
South Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of a defibrillator at the premises
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Derwent Facilities Management 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.2
Derwent Facilities Management Limited
Approve the purchase and installation of an automated external defibrillator at the premises.
Derwent Facilities Management Limited
Purchase and install an automated external defibrillator at the premises.
Liverpool and the Wirral
Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure prompt access to and deployment of the defibrillator
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Goals Soccer Centres PLC
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Goals Soccer Centres PLC
Install defibrillators across the entire club estate and maintain them in accessible, monitored reception locations.
Goals Soccer Centres PLC
Install additional defibrillator location signs at clubhouse and changing-facility exits and individual pitch gates.
Goals Soccer Centres PLC
Circulate the Emergency First Aid Incident Procedure to all clubs to reinforce emergency roles and responsibilities.
Goals Soccer Centres PLC
Finalise and implement the Goals Normal Operating Procedures and Emergency Action Plan across all clubs, incorporating emergency response procedures into regional audits.
Goals Soccer Centres PLC
Provide all club staff with scenario-based emergency First Aid training, including on-site role-play, video learning and annual refreshers.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Goals Soccer Centres PLC
The response disputes that there was a significant delay in accessing or deploying the defibrillator during the incident.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of a defibrillator at poolside
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
East Riding and Hull
Concerns raised1
Lack of defibrillator availability in court buildings
Linked response
HM Courts & Tribunals Service
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
HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Install a defibrillator at Hull Combined Court Centre.
Inner South London
Concerns raised1
Lack of a defibrillator
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
London Borough of Lambeth
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
London Borough of Lambeth
There is no legal requirement for the Centre to have a defibrillator.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Manchester City
Concerns raised1
Lack of automated external defibrillator availability on trams and tram stops
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Inner South London
Concerns raised1
Delays in bringing the defibrillator
This report raised 9 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Cambian Group plc
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Cambian Group plc
The former operator no longer controls future hospital safety steps, which fall to the successor operator.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Restricted immediate access to the emergency defibrillator
This report raised 15 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
West Yorkshire (Western)
Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure a functioning defibrillator is immediately available
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Cheshire
Concerns raised2
Failure to check defibrillator equipment daily for serviceability
Defibrillator malfunction
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No 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.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.