Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Member of Parliament for Solihull West & Shirley, spoke this week in a Westminster Hall debate on access to life saving defibrillators, where he called for a change in national policy to improve both availability and training.
With his professional experiences as both a doctor and a barrister specialising in inquests and clinical negligence, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP has seen first-hand the devastating consequences of delayed treatment, and the transformative difference that timely action can make.
In his remarks, Dr Shastri-Hurst emphasised that every minute counts when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. Survival rates can more than double when a defibrillator is deployed quickly. Yet too many communities still face barriers in accessing this lifesaving equipment.
Dr Shastri-Hurst, together with John Cooper MP, has recently written to the Secretary of State for Transport urging the Government to make lifesaving skills a mandatory part of the UK driving test. By embedding this knowledge at the outset of people’s adult lives, millions would gain the skills and confidence to act in moments of critical need.
Speaking after the debate, Dr Shastri-Hurst said:
“When a cardiac arrest strikes, every second counts. No family should have to face the heartbreak of losing a loved one simply because a defibrillator was out of reach, or because bystanders lacked the confidence to use one. From my years in medicine, I know how often the difference between life and death comes down to immediate action. By ensuring defibrillator and other lifesaving training becomes part of the driving test, we can give young people the tools to step forward and save lives.”
Dr Shastri-Hurst also reflected upon his local efforts to improve provision in Solihull West & Shirley. Earlier this year, he and his team held a fundraiser which secured two defibrillators and many bleed kits for the constituency. One of these has been donated to The Wave Cafe, a cherished community venue, where, only months earlier, a much-loved member of the community tragically died in need of a defibrillator.
“I have seen too often the pain families carry when questions remain over whether more could have been done. We cannot change what happened, but we can honour their memory by making sure others have the best chance of survival in the future. I am incredibly proud of the way our community came together to fund these defibrillators, and I will keep pressing nationally and acting locally to make access to lifesaving equipment the norm, not the exception.”
