New Community Defibrillator available
Mount Road Practice PPG • 13 May 2025
The PPG have facilitated the installation of a new Community Defibrillator outside Bargain Booze in the Rookery.
During our PPG meeting in April 2024, we discussed the availability of 24-hour accessible defibrillators in the Kidsgrove area. Our preliminary investigations revealed that the availability of defibrillators in Kidsgrove was limited, and not all defibrillators are accessible 24 hours a day. At the time, there were only two defibrillators that we could identify as available 24 hours a day, located at Whitehill Methodist Community Church and outside the One Sure Insurance building in Butt Lane.
As a PPG, we decided to improve this situation and facilitate the installation of a centrally located 24-hour accessible defibrillator in Kidsgrove town centre. We sought funding sources and were delighted to receive £1,000 from the Staffordshire County Council - Community Fund for 2024. (£500 each from councillors Gill Burnett-Faulkner and Jill Waring).
Additional funding was also secured by a donation of £500 from Kidsgrove and District Rotary Club, £300 from the Chair of Mount Road Practice PPG and a contribution of £200 from AED donate, who are the providers of the defibrillator equipment.
Our original idea for the best location for the defibrillator was Kidsgrove Town Hall, so we reached out to Kidsgrove Town Council to see if we could install the defibrillator cabinet there. When we contacted the Town Council, they had just received a defibrillator unit from the British Heart Foundation as part of a nationwide initiative they were implementing. We have engaged in numerous discussions with Kidsgrove Town Council. The current status is that they have returned the original defibrillator unit supplied by the British Heart Foundation, as one of the stipulations stated it must be housed in an unlocked cabinet. The Town Council has agreed to purchase and install a lockable unit outside the Town Hall and is exploring the possibility of adding a second unit in the town centre at the junction of Liverpool Road and Heathcote Street.
As a result, we expanded our search and approached East Midlands Railway to see if it was possible to install the unit at Kidsgrove Railway Station.
Speaking to the area manager, he informed us that all stations on the Crewe to Derby line should have had a 24-hour accessible defibrillator installed. However, when we informed him that there wasn’t one installed at Kidsgrove, he investigated and found that, for some unknown reason, the unit hadn't been installed. As a result of our discussions, East Midlands Railway has agreed to install a 24-hour accessible defibrillator at the station.
While we have been working on the project, another defibrillator unit has been installed on the outside of the Red Bull Public House, and another unit is also available on the outside of the Rifleman Public House. As a result of more defibrillators being available in the Town Centre, we looked at other areas in the vicinity and thought that the Pump Track on Newchapel Road would be a good location. Unfortunately, there is no suitable fixing location, with a power supply and our approach to the Staffordshire Highways Department to see if we could utilise a street lighting post, was unsuccessful.
We identified the most suitable nearby location and contacted the owners of Bargain Booze in Rookery High Street. They have been very accommodating and agreed to have the unit installed outside their shop, allowing the use of their electricity supply for the cabinet.
As you can see, the PPG have managed to significantly improve the availability of 24-hour accessible defibrillators in the Kidsgrove area, both directly and indirectly.
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the organisations and individuals who have supported this initiative and their commitment to enhancing community safety, namely: -
Staffordshire County Council Community Fund and Councillors Jill Waring and Gill Burnett-Faulkner
Kidsgrove and District Rotary Club
Bargain Booze (Rookery)
Their support has helped us bring essential this life-saving equipment to Kidsgrove.
You can see the defibrillator closest to you by using the Defibrillator Finder site at https://www.defibfinder.uk
Two reception classes from Thursfield Primary School recently visited the surgery as part of their education where they are learning about jobs in the community. The children learnt about the various roles of staff at the surgery. Not only did the visit help them understand more about the jobs at the surgery but it will also hopefully help them feel less anxious when they have to visit the surgery to see the doctor or the nurse in future. They had a great time Role-playing alongside the staff. You can see the pictures by clicking here .
Please note that if you want to attend this NHS App Workshop or any future sessions you must contact reception to book a place, as the sessions are by appointment only.
The PPG and Approach organised a Christmas party for attendees of the weekly dementia support group that meets every Thursday at Whitehill Methodist Community Church between 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm. We were also fortunate to have a visit from a choir from Dove Bank Primary School. You can see some pictures from the party with background music from the choir by clicking here .
