AQW 48889/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 17/06/2026
Answered On Date: 01/07/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether his Department holds and regularly maintains a database of all defibrillators and associated codes for access in communities.

Answer:

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) is leading on the implementation of the Community Resuscitation Strategy.

NIAS, in line with other UK ambulance services, utilises The Circuit, the National Defibrillator Network, funded by the British Heart Foundation. The Circuit serves as the central registry for publicly accessible defibrillators across the UK.

It is integrated with the NIAS emergency call handling system, enabling Emergency Medical Dispatchers to identify and direct callers to the nearest available registered defibrillator in cases of suspected cardiac arrest. Defibrillator details, including access information and cabinet codes (where applicable), are recorded within The Circuit.

Responsibility for maintaining the accuracy of this information rests with the individual defibrillator guardian (or owner), who must ensure that location details, availability, access arrangements and cabinet codes remain current.

NIAS does not own or directly manage community defibrillators and, therefore, does not maintain a separate database of defibrillator locations or access codes. Instead, NIAS supports and promotes registration on The Circuit and relies on defibrillator guardians to keep their information accurate and up to date.