Friends of Frome Hospital install final defibrillator

An important black hole in the network of the Frome Community Defibrillators Scheme has now been filled with the twenty second ‘publicly available defibrillator’ (PAD) now installed in the busy Kingsway Shopping Precinct in Frome.

Acknowledging the generosity from donations made by the people of Frome which has enabled the network to be funded, the Friends of Frome Hospital Trustees are asking the public if they would sign the ‘national on-line’ petition to object to the high level of VAT on the purchases of life-saving defibrillator equipment which should be considered vital for the support of health care in any community.

Derek Trick, Project Leader for the Friends of Frome Hospital Community Defibrillator Scheme says, “Nationally, Frome has led the way in establishing a community-wide ‘network’ of twenty two PADs, but its cost has had to include a hefty tax element. Our plea is for people to sign into a new national on-line initiative is to get 100,000 signatures to ensure the subject, at least, gets debated in parliament.                                                            

“The ‘Friends’ network of defibrillators are top of the range and have to include a secure cabinet, so it is probably too late in the day as far as our campaign is concerned, but there are groups like the scouts, schools, amateur sports teams and welfare support groups who would like a less-sophisticated defibrillator but are often prohibited because of this additional tax burden. People power may just help!”

To offer support the direct link is: https://   petition.parliament.uk /signatures ‘Remove VAT (20%) on Defibrillators’