Defibrillator plans still on for York
Plans have been discussed
The installation of life-saving equipment in York is still set to go ahead, the company behind the plans has confirmed.
A defibrillator and a bleed kit are set to be installed at Nationwide’s Parliament Street branch as part of a national scheme.
A spokesperson for the building society said it had resubmitted a planning application to install the equipment after withdrawing a previous one to make an amendment.
It comes as part of a rollout of defibrillators and bleed kits to 605 Nationwides by the end of the year.
The scheme is also set to see equipment installed at 91 Virgin Money branches, including the one in York’s Coney Street, in due course.
It is being done in partnership with Visa and St John Ambulance, with the latter also set to offer life-saving training to Nationwide staff and local communities.
Plans lodged with York Council in May stated the installations were part of Nationwide’s commitment to support local communities with rapid access to vital emergency equipment whenever it is needed.
Each cabinet would have been made using ‘double-skin’ construction and feature a heater and air circulation fan to stop them from freezing and prevent condensation.
Plans stated: “These cabinets are potentially life-saving.
“The cabinets are located on the branch’s Parliament Street facing elevation as to be in a prominent location where they can easily be seen and, at a height where they can be reached in case they are needed in an emergency.”
Defibrillators are designed to help people who have gone into cardiac arrest while bleed kits contain equipment to stem catastrophic blood loss.
Survival rates for cardiac arrest increase by up to 70 per cent if those who suffer one are defibrillated within three to five minutes of collapsing, according to the Resuscitation Council.
But of the roughly 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests nationally every year, less than one in 10 people survive according to the British Heart Foundation.
Government figures for England showed there were around 53,000 offences involving knives, sharp instruments or other such implements in 2024/5.
Severe bleeding is a leading cause of death following a traumatic injury.
Nationwide Retail Services Director Amanda Beech said the rollout and training offers were part of helping people feel prepared, confident and ready to act in an emergency.
Professor Andrew Hartle, St John Ambulance’s Chief Medical Officer, said he was confident the scheme would see many more lives saved.
Nationwide’s spokesperson said they were looking forward to working with York Council on plans for the city centre.