Thanks to the generous support of the local community, Royal Berks Charity has fully funded the installation of brand-new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) cabinets throughout the Royal Berkshire Hospital – a vital step that could help save lives in emergency situations.
Until recently, the hospital’s only corridor AED was located at Main Reception. This meant that in the event of a cardiac emergency elsewhere on site, valuable time could be lost retrieving equipment. With the hospital covering a large area and departments often spread out, response times could vary.
Now, with the addition of new AED cabinets placed strategically at both ends of the hospital, first responders will have quicker access to essential equipment, giving patients and visitors the best possible chance of survival in those critical first moments.
“We’ve already seen the AED at Main Reception used to help members of the public who collapsed in our corridors,” said a hospital spokesperson. “The new cabinets will enable faster responses in other areas of the hospital and really could mean the difference between life and death.”
AEDs are used to provide a potentially life-saving electric shock to someone experiencing a cardiac arrest. Having them readily accessible increases the chances of a positive outcome before a full medical team arrives.
This upgrade has been made possible entirely through donations to Royal Berks Charity – underlining the vital role local fundraising plays in enhancing hospital care beyond what standard NHS budgets can cover.
“A huge thank you to every individual, business, and community group who supports Royal Berks Charity,” said a spokesperson from the charity. “You’ve helped fund equipment that protects everyone who walks through our doors – whether they’re here for treatment, work, or to visit a loved one.”
Royal Berks Charity continues to raise funds for a wide range of projects that improve care and wellbeing for patients and staff across the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.
