Parishioners at an Ipswich church have raised concerns as its defibrillator is currently out of action. Angela Holland from Whitehouse Baptist Church, in Waterford Road, says the lifesaving equipment cannot be used at the moment as part of the equipment has been removed. She believes that someone used it but may have taken the equipment with them and not yet returned it.
Angela Holland next to the defibrillator (Image: Angela Holland) Back in 2023, the defibrillator at the Newton Road Conservative Club was found 94 miles in Peterborough as it was put in a car after it was used. For the church, parishioners say they are concerned that in the meantime the code that is needed to use the device can still be given out by emergency call handlers when someone rings 999. It's a situation that could cost lives if somebody has a medical incident near the church and somebody offering assistance is relying on the defibrillator.
The unveiling of the defibrillator in June 2022. (Image: Archant) Despite attempts to inform the ambulance service about the issue, they haven't received a response. Ms Holland said: "They didn't come back to us.
To me that doesn't seem right that their still sending people the codes to get into it. They've got to be told. "Somebody's obviously got it, and we just feel that if nobody comes forward and says they've got it and puts it back we'll have to take it down because we don't want people to think they can get help from it.
" Rev Robert Foster with the defibrillator at Whitehouse Baptist Church in June 2022. (Image: Archant) Ms Holland says that a man tried to use the defibrillator a few weeks ago for his daughter but rushed away from the church when he found that he couldn't use it. The defibrillator was installed in June 2022 following a suggestion from Kirsty Youngs, an emergency responder on the Whitehouse estate.
Locals raised money to fund it through donations on the Whitton and Whitehouse Community Facebook page. Training was also provided to show local residents how to use the device and how to perform first aid. The East of England Ambulance Service has been contacted for comment.
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Health
Church raises alarm as out-of-action defibrillator could cost lives
Concerns have been raised about the defibrillator at the Whitehouse Baptist Church in Ipswich, which is currently out of action.