Haringey is taking steps to address the issue of 'defibrillator deserts' to improve the chances of survival for individuals experiencing cardiac arrest. The London Ambulance Service (LAS) is working with communities to identify defibrillator guardians, install public-access defibrillators, and ensure community members are trained in life-saving CPR skills and feel confident to use a defibrillator. The London Ambulance Service (LAS) has identified areas with limited access to these life-saving devices and is implementing measures to increase their availability.
At a recent meeting of the North Central London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the LAS presented an update on its performance and achievements, highlighting the training of over 17,000 London Lifesavers. As part of this initiative, the LAS has been actively working to identify and address areas with a scarcity of public access defibrillators. The LAS presented their findings in a document titled NCL JHOSC November 2025_London Ambulance Service.
The LAS serves 9 million Londoners, with 1.4 million residing in North Central London. In 2025 alone, approximately 131,989 patients in North Central London received face-to-face care from the LAS. The service employs almost 700 individuals in the region, operating from three ambulance groups and 10 ambulance stations.
Key achievements for the LAS in 2024/25 include:
- An average 999 call answering time of 5 seconds.
- A 999 hear and treat rate of 20.1%.
- Holding NHS 111 contracts in all five London Integrated Care Boards, including North Central.
- Identifying 'Defibrillator Deserts' including two areas in Islington and setting up LAS Community First Responder Team
- Co-designing the first Integrated Care Coordination Hub, located in North Central London.
- Procuring an electronic controlled drugs register.
- Providing bespoke care to vulnerable patient groups.
- Integrating the NHS Resilience Emergency Capabilities Unit.
While 'Defibrillator Deserts' have been identified in Islington, specific areas in Haringey or other parts of North Central London were not mentioned in the meeting information.
The LAS is also focusing on improving ambulance response times for the sickest patients, reducing avoidable Emergency Department conveyance by increasing 999 and Integrated Urgent Care utilisation of Alternative Care Pathways, reducing handover delays, and improving staff vaccination rates by 5 %.
To support this effort, the LAS is actively seeking community involvement through its London Heart Starters campaign, which aims to increase the number of public-access defibrillators in unlocked cabinets in areas where they are most needed. The campaign uses a data-driven approach to identify 'defib deserts' across the capital.
Residents can support the campaign by:
- Making a gift or fundraising.
- Serving as a defibrillator guardian or sponsoring a defibrillator.
- Helping to find suitable locations for defibrillators or local businesses to host pop-up events.
- Spreading the word about the campaign.
For more information, contact londamb.heartstarters@nhs.net.
The LAS is also running the London Lifesavers schools programme, where paramedics teach life-saving skills to Year 8 children in every borough.
By addressing the issue of 'defibrillator deserts' and empowering communities with life-saving skills, Haringey and the London Ambulance Service are working together to improve cardiac arrest survival rates and create a safer environment for all residents.