London is set to receive 200 new life-saving defibrillators aimed at addressing the city’s “defibrillator deserts.”

Presently, there are 84 districts in London lacking convenient access to these crucial devices. Out of these, 13 areas are devoid of any defibrillator, while 71 have only limited access.

The new devices are being financed by the Mayor of London, in support of the London Ambulance Service’s London Heart Starters initiative.

Natasha Irons, MP for Croydon East, expressed her support: “I applaud the Mayor of London for taking this step to assist the London Ambulance Service in achieving their funding targets, thereby enhancing accessibility to life-saving defibrillators for every community.

“This presents a fantastic opportunity for neighborhood groups in Addiscombe—one identified as a defibrillator desert—and throughout Croydon to get involved and host a device.

“By doing this, you could potentially save a life.”

Jason Killens, CEO of London Ambulance Service, remarked: “Defibrillators are both safe and easy to operate, and increasing their presence in public areas will save more lives.

“Become a protector in your community by ensuring that your local defibrillator is ready for use when needed. It should not matter where you live in London—everyone deserves the best chance of surviving a cardiac emergency.”

Lilli Matson, Chief Safety Officer at Transport for London, added: “Our first-aid trained personnel at stations have access to defibrillators for customers using the Tube and Overground when required.

“We understand that every second is vital when it comes to saving a life, so we are also excited to contribute defibrillators to homeless shelters as part of this vital initiative.”