The Friends of Frome Hospital are calling for a more sustainable, long-term plan to keep the town’s life-saving defibrillators in operation, as 20 of the devices are due to be replaced by the end of this year.
The charity, which maintains 29 defibrillators across Frome and nearby villages, says the cost of replacing the machines is expected to be £30,900 so they need to find a more sustainable plan to ensure they can keep the equipment going beyond its ‘service life’, which expires every eight years.
“In the first six months of this year, our defibs have been accessed about 1.1 times a week on average and that’s been consistent over the last four years,” said Richard Lines, trustee and defibrillator coordinator. “That’s more than 50 times a year. These machines have saved lives, absolutely they have, and they will continue to do so.”
Defibrillator Guardians
Frome’s defibrillator network is maintained by a team of nine local volunteers known as Defibrillator Guardians, who carry out regular checks and respond quickly when a unit is used. “We’re known for being the most dedicated guardians in the area,” said Richard. “Whenever we get emails to say they have been accessed, we are there fairly rapidly to make sure they are ok and get them back online otherwise no one else can use them.”
Currently, 20 of the town’s defibrillators are due to be replaced by the end of 2025. A further two are set for renewal by the end of 2026, another two by 2027, and three more by 2030.
Previously, the defibrillators, some of which contain bleed kits, came with a 10-year warranty, but this was recently reduced to eight years. After consulting with other groups and insurance providers, the Friends agreed to run the devices for the full 10 years, relying on their guardians’ regular checks.
However, with the equipment now up for renewal, Richard said that if the guardians are to keep the defibrillators going for Frome and surrounding areas, they need a ‘long-term plan to be able to maintain the defibrillators for the community.’
VAT adds £500 per defib
Another major barrier is VAT, which adds up to £500 per defibrillator. Richard says removing this tax would make a significant difference and is hopeful after local MP Anna Sabine signed a letter in Parliament calling for VAT to be scrapped on Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
“If we are going to spend tens of thousands of pounds, we absolutely have to solve this issue,” said Richard. “One option currently being explored is for a charity to purchase them and donate them to a relevant party, for example, the South Western Ambulance, in which case VAT would not apply.”
The Friends are due to have a meeting to discuss their options for funding and maintenance.
