Addressing Health Inequalities in Bournemouth East
Bournemouth East Needs More Defibrillators
Published: 14 September 2025
This week in Parliament, I called for a national effort for the installation of life-saving defibrillators in areas like Bournemouth East where there are just not enough.
New research has shown that 41.5% of postcodes in Bournemouth East lack direct access to a defibrillator within the crucial 3-5 minute survival window.
Compared to other parts of the country, that makes Bournemouth East a postcode lottery when it comes to suffering from a cardiac arrest.
There are people in Bournemouth East who know this better than I do.
The Bournemouth Heart Club were established in 1996 to aid the rehabilitation of people that had undergone cardiac intervention.
They’re one of two purpose-built heart clubs in the UK, and since 1996, have helped thousands of people to better health.
The group holds 45 weekly classes supporting cardiac and diabetic recovery.
My own understanding of the need for defibrillators is in part thanks to the Bournemouth Heart Club.
We should celebrate their service, and I was glad to highlight their work and this urgent need in Parliament.
Elsewhere, Hengistbury Residents’ Association (HENRA), Regency Living and St Nicholas’ Church recently funded the installation of a defibrillator at the church near Hengistbury Head.
Seven weeks after being fitted, it was used to save someone’s life.
That’s community-driven health that we can all be grateful for, but a push is needed on the national front too.
Rates of survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are as low as ten percent, but research shows that with early CPR and defibrillation, we can increase those chances by up to 50%.
I’m campaigning to ensure that people in Bournemouth East have access to these invaluable devices and the same chances of survival as everyone else.
If you are suffering from a cardiac condition and are in need of medical advice, please contact the 24-hour NHS support team on 111, or utilise the 111 online service.
Or, contact the Bournemouth Heart Club here.
