Majority of the public want action on defibrillators in 2026

The UK is facing a public health crisis. Each year, thousands of lives are lost due to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Survival rates could be dramatically improved, however, through greater access to defibrillators. In a recent poll released by the JumpStart campaign, more than half of the UK public (59%) said that improving access to defibrillators should be a government priority in 2026. Now, the campaign is calling on the Government to take action.

The scale of the issue

According to the latest figures, there are more than 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year. With survival rates at less than 10%, there are a staggering number of fatalities. This need not be the case, however. Evidence shows that using a defibrillator within 3 to 5 minutes of a cardiac arrest can increase survival rates up to 70%. This means that greater access to these devices could save thousands of lives.

In recent years, there has been a drive to install defibrillators in UK public spaces, from town halls to train stations. However, for the majority of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest sufferers these defibrillators are either out of reach or ineffective in a crisis. Around 80% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home. Meanwhile, evidence has emerged that some of the devices in public spaces are, themselves, ineffective. A joint investigation by The Observer and BBC Radio 4’s The Naked Week revealed that many publicly located defibrillators are inaccessible, unregistered or not functioning when needed.

The JumpStart campaign

To address these issues, the JumpStart campaign has proposed a simple and scalable solution. It is calling for automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to be included as standard in all new vehicles, with maintenance checks incorporated into the MOT system. This solution was conceived by Jonathan Harris CBE, who is now philanthropically funding the JumpStart campaign. The proposal is currently being discussed with Government officials to explore how it could work in practice.

Modern AEDs, with their sophisticated technology, are valuable tools in the fight to prevent fatalities from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. They are portable and specifically designed for use by members of the public, being both easy-to-use and safe. Meanwhile, according to JumpStart’s proposals, the AEDs will be regularly maintained as part of a vehicle’s MOT, ensuring that they are ready-for-action when needed.

The time is now

As the Government considers its priorities for the coming year, JumpStart is calling for vehicle-carried AEDs to be one of them. Jon McLeod, a spokesperson for the campaign, said:

“This polling confirms what the data has consistently shown: the public want action, and they want it now. The Government has a real opportunity in 2026 to fix a system that is costing thousands of lives every year. JumpStart’s proposal is simple, practical and evidence-led and it can start saving lives immediately once implemented.”