Cardiac arrest survival in Scotland receives a boost

A University of Edinburgh-led partnership designed to improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates has been awarded £2.5 million by the Scottish Government.

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney performs CPR on a model, assisted by Susan Gardner from Save a Life for Scotland — Susan Gardner from Save a Life for Scotland watches on as First Minister of Scotland John Swinney performs CPR on a manikin.

The investment, announced by First Minister John Swinney at the University’s Usher Building, will enable the Save a Life for Scotland partnership (SALFS) to roll out at least 1,000 additional defibrillators, alongside targeted support for communities across the country.

The funding will support Cardiac Arrest Rescue (CARE) Zones, empowering communities to respond quickly and confidently when cardiac arrest strikes.

Collaborative approach

Working in partnership with local organisations and guided by local data, the programme will target areas of greatest need – training more people in CPR, strengthening networks of volunteer responders, and installing defibrillators in locations where they will have the greatest impact.

Established in 2015 in response to Scotland’s historically low cardiac arrest survival rates, SALFS brings together researchers from the University, Scottish Government, NHS Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service, Scottish Fire and Rescue Services, Police Scotland and a large number of third-sector organisations and community groups.

Swift action

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest affects around 3,700 people in Scotland each year who receive resuscitation attempts in the community. Around 80 per cent of cardiac arrests occur at home, and survival depends critically on what happens in the first few minutes.

After collapse, the chance of survival decreases by around 10 per cent for every minute without CPR. Early recognition, immediate bystander CPR and rapid defibrillation are the strongest determinants of survival.

Surviving a cardiac arrest often depends on what happens in the minutes before an ambulance arrives. That is why we are investing £2.5 million to deliver more defibrillators into communities, strengthen local response networks and ensure more people have the skills and confidence to act.
Survival rates following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have increased since 2015 thanks to the work of Save a Life partners in training more than one million people in CPR skills and improving defibrillation rates. We can and must, however, do more - and this investment will deliver targeted support in the areas that need it most.
We will work towards ensuring there is a defibrillator within reach of every incident, using evidence to identify the best locations and modes of delivery. We are determined to build a Scotland where everyone, regardless of where they live, has the best possible chance of surviving a cardiac arrest and can live healthier, longer lives.

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney poses with a host of people at the announcement of £2.5 million into new defibrillators across the country — From left to right: Rodger Hill (David Hill Foundation), John Sinclair, Lesley Hill (David Hill Foundation), David McColgan (BHF Scotland), First Minister of Scotland John Swinney, David Argyle (University of Edinburgh), Dominika Skrocka (Save a Life for Scotland), Steven Short (Scottish Ambulance Service), Dr Gareth Clegg, Lisa MacInnes, Susan Gardner (all Save a Life for Scotland), David Bywater (Scottish Ambulance Service).

The Save a Life for Scotland partnership is coordinated by the Resuscitation Research Group in the Usher Institute at the University of Edinburgh, which provides academic and clinical leadership, supports national coordination and ensures data and research inform policy and practice.

The team works closely with the Scottish Ambulance Service to evaluate outcomes and produces Scotland’s annual out-of-hospital cardiac arrest report. Researchers have also played a central role in developing Scotland’s national strategy for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

This investment is a transformative step for communities across Scotland. By expanding access to defibrillators in the places they are most needed, we are giving many more people the chance to survive cardiac arrest and return home to their families.
This funding will allow the University of Edinburgh to work in close partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service, councils, emergency services, schools and third-sector organisations to ensure defibrillators are not only more numerous, but more equitably and strategically deployed in communities that are ready to use them.

Collaborative approach

Swift action

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