Tameside Hospital sparks life in Dukinfield

Date published: 14 January 2010

Tameside Hospital has supported the creation of a resuscitation service at Astley Sports College in Dukinfield, in a bid to extend resources, experience and success in resuscitation beyond the boundaries of the hospital site.

Most victims of cardiac arrest are affected in the community and this project set out to work in the community to deploy an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in a neighbourhood location.

A team of teachers and sports professionals at Astley Sports College have enthusiastically embraced the project, received expert training and have taken possession of the hospital sponsored AED. As an organisation that sits in the heart of the community providing for the educational needs of a large school age population, and which has sports facilities used by tens of thousands of individuals of all ages throughout the year, the AED will help reduce the risk of fatal heart attacks.

Geoff Pogson, Lead Resuscitation Officer said: “Whilst all concerned in the project hope that the AED will never need to be deployed, in the event of a service user experiencing a cardiac arrest, a resident team of trained staff will be in a position to deliver the type of resuscitative support that our hospital ward staff such as doctors, nurses and physiotherapists currently provide. This should ensure that any unfortunate victim of cardiac arrest using the Astley facilities will be given the best opportunity to survive the event with the minimum of post arrest problems.”

Tameside Hospital are registered with the Resuscitation Council (UK) as an Advance Life Support centre, an Immediate Life Support centre and European Paediatric Life Support centre and provide training for both private and public sectors. For further information please contact Geoff Pogson at geoff.pogson@tgh.nhs.uk