Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To update Members on changes to BCC’s list of defibrillators previously agreed through BCC’s Public Access Defibrillator Pilot Programme in 2016/2018 and a request for inclusion of two further locations on the list of priority sites for future provision.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

-       Note the changes in regard to previously agreed defibrillator locations - the removal of the Woodlands Playing Fields and Ulidia Playing Fields defibrillator designations as ‘publicly accessible’, and the installation of Council’s device previously located at Ulidia Playing Fields to Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park.

-       In response to a request from Edenderry Residents Association for Council to install and take on the management of an externally funded defibrillator device - to agree the inclusion of 2 further BCC sites on our ‘priority list for future public access defibrillator provision’ – Edenderry Village Playground and Hannahstown Village Playground given their unique status as rural villages within our Council boundary.

3.0       Main report

            Background

3.1       Between 2016 and 2018 Council successfully implemented a Public Access Defibrillator Pilot Programme through three phases which saw the installation of a total of 22 defibrillators at 14 of our parks and playing field sites across the city. Although the first two phases were funded internally, its third phase of 8 devices was made possible thanks to an external donation received from the family of the late Mark Murphy.

3.2       Following the success of the programme, at March 2018 People and Communities Committee, Members agreed a further list of 8 priority park/playing fields sites (as well as 8 Community Centres) to be the focus of any future provision as money became available.

3.3       Given the resource implications associated, not only with the purchase of devices (circa £1,400 per unit), and with their long-term daily management and maintenance to ensure ‘emergency ready’ at all times – the focus of the programme has continued to on sites that contain recreational facilities, and have significant public access or high footfall; with final agreement for installation at the sites agreed also being subject to officer identification of a suitable location with an electrical supply; and confirmation with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) that there are no other public access defibrillators in proximity.

3.4       Public Access Defibrillator Provision Programme (2018)

            * Device no longer categorised as publicly accessible

            Removal of ‘publicly accessible’ designation for two Council defibrillators

3.5       Two of the previously installed defibrillators i.e., Ulidia Playing Fields and Woodlands Playing Fields, are no longer considered to be ‘publicly accessible’ given that site access is restricted to hours of bookings – and therefore we are now required to remove these sites from Council’s list of ‘publicly accessible defibrillators. Members should note that this will not impact the availability of devices at these locations as the intention is to retain the Woodlands Playing Fields in situ under continued Council management, and Rosario FC will continue to manage their own defibrillator onsite at Ulidia Playing Fields.

            Relocation of Ulidia Playing Fields device to Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park

3.6       The surplus Ulidia Playing Fields defibrillator has provided an opportunity for installation at a new location from our list of priority park and playing field sites. Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park in south Belfast has been selected as this new location following requests from the community for a device to be placed there after a recent medical emergency within the park, as well as officer’s confirmation of a suitable location by the café at the Stables building.

            Proposed addition of two sites onto list for future public access defibrillator provision

3.7       Members are asked to agree the inclusion of two further Council sites on the list of priority Council park/playing fields sites identified for future public access defibrillator provision, on availability of funding – Edenderry Village Playground and Hannahstown Playground and the widening out of the focus of the programme to date (i.e. sites demonstrating significant public access or high footfall)  to include these two rural villages in reflection of unique peripheral locations within our council boundary. 

3.8       A proposal to include these sites follows a request for the installation of a defibrillator at Edenderry Village Playground, with the device itself to be made available from Edenderry Residents Association. As one of the city’s only two villages the rationale for a publicly accessible device is the location’s lack of proximity to other publicly accessible devices (closest device 2 miles away by car). In addition, high footfall on Lagan Valley Park walking trails in and around the village are demonstrated by adjacent Giants Ring historical monument and Minnowburn each welcoming over 190,000 visitors in 2021.

            Financial & Resource Implications

3.9       Should members agree to the inclusion of the two rural sites Edenderry Residents Association will provide the defibrillator device.  All other costs associated with this proposal are included within existing revenue estimates.

            Equality or Good Relations Implications /Rural Needs Assessments

3.10      There are no Equality or Good Relations Implications /Rural Needs Assessments associated with this report.”

            The Committee:

·        noted the changes regarding previously agreed defibrillator locations, the removal of the Woodlands Playing Fields and Ulidia Playing Fields defibrillator designations as ‘publicly accessible’, and the installation of the Council’s device that was previously located at Ulidia Playing Fields to Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park;

·        agreed the inclusion of two further Belfast City Council sites on the ‘priority list for future public access defibrillator provision’ – Edenderry Village Playground and Hannahstown Village Playground, given their unique status as rural villages within the Council’s boundary; and

·        agreed to submit a report to a future meeting that would give consideration as to how the Council could liaise with other community groups and organisations to work together towards facilitating the provision of more publicly accessible defibrillators, both from a funding and location perspective.