LIFE-SAVING equipment has been installed outside a Greenmount GP practice, giving people who suffer a sudden cardiac arrest more chance of getting the help they need quickly.

A new defibrillator is now located outside the Greenmount Medical Centre, in Brandlesholme Road, to provide both the practice and the local community round-the-clock access to the device.

There is a church, school hall, and cycle path all in close proximity to the practice, making it the ideal location to house the equipment, known as a Community Public Access Defibrillator (CPAD).

Lesley Mallalieu, practice manager at Greenmount Medical Centre, said: "Our practice is located in the middle of the busy village and is one of numerous premises that are frequently used by the local community.

"A cardiac arrest is usually sudden and unexpected, so it makes sense to have this type of lifesaving equipment available in places where lots of people can access it.

"We hope that we never have to use it, but are reassured that should it be needed in an emergency situation, it is available and could potentially save a life."

In the event of a 999 call where a sudden cardiac arrest is suspected, if a defibrillator is within the close vicinity, the 999 service will inform the caller of its location and the ‘pin code’ to access the defibrillator, enabling them to bring this back to the patient’s location.

The call handler would then talk through the next steps of how to use the machines.