A new community defibrillator has been installed at Leicester’s Pork Pie Library, expanding lifesaving equipment coverage in the Eyres Monsell area.
The community public access defibrillator (CPAD) has been mounted on the library’s external wall and is available around the clock. According to health experts, immediate CPR and use of a defibrillator can raise survival chances in cardiac emergencies to more than 50%.
Picture credit: Leicester City Council
The installation is part of the Heartshield project, which aims to place 30 defibrillators across Leicester. The initiative is a collaboration between Leicester City Council’s public health team, East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), and the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT).
Lord Mayor of Leicester Cllr Teresa Aldred, who is supporting JHMT during her mayoral year, praised the project. “This is a really good example of communities working together with local charities and organisations to bring about a change that could one day save somebody’s life,” she said. “I’m very proud to be supporting this vital cause.”
Assistant city mayor for public health Cllr Vi Dempster said the new CPAD strengthens efforts to make Leicester a “heart-safe city.”
“About 30,000 people in Leicester live with at least one cardiovascular condition,” she said. “By installing more community defibrillators and training people in how to use them, we can increase survival rates.”
JHMT medical trustee Dr. Mike Ferguson highlighted the scale of the issue, noting that the UK sees 60,000 cardiac arrests each year. “Half of these are witnessed, yet only 10% survive,” he said. “To improve mortality rates, it’s vital that publicly accessible defibrillators are readily available and that people learn CPR.”
He said the charity is “delighted” to work alongside the council and EMAS to expand access, particularly in communities with limited provision.
Eyres Monsell currently has just one other 24/7 defibrillator. Local councillors Elaine Pantling and Karen Pickering, who have been seeking additional suitable locations for devices, said they were proud to represent the area in the Heartshield programme and hope to secure more installations in future.
