RD&E to benefit from new CPR machine

Patients at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital are benefiting from a brand new CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) machine thanks to local charity HeartSWell.

The £10,000 AutoPulse machine has been donated by the Plymouth based organisation to give patients a better chance of surviving a cardiac arrest.

AutoPulse is a portable cardiac support pump that provides automated chest compressions to keep blood pumping around your body if you have a cardiac arrest.

The machine delivers consistent and high quality chest compressions, whilst freeing medical staff up to perform other lifesaving duties.

Dr Gavin Lloyd, Consultant Emergency Physician at the Royal Devon and Exeter said: “The AutoPulse is an effective alternative to manual chest compressions, which is beneficial to patients in prolonged cardiac arrest. We have now secured two of these units for the hospital -- one stationed in the Emergency Department, the other in Cardiology. We are most grateful to the charity HeartSWell for funding one of them.”

This is the third AutoPulse device that HeartSWell have donated to hospitals in the South West in recent years. Since the charity was founded in 1996, it has raised well over a million pounds to support heart patients and their families, funding everything from lifesaving equipment to specialist cardiac nurses. They also provide affordable accommodation for relatives of cardiac patients with their HeartSWell Lodge near Derriford Hospital.   

David Wells, Trustee Director from HeartSWell said: “We are delighted to donate the vital ZOLL AutoPulse machine because of the possibility of improved survival for cardiac arrest victims. HeartSWell were pleased to have also supported and donated AutoPulses to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth and Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske."

Gary Nicholas, ZOLL UK Territory Manager, said: ‘At ZOLL Medical our mission is to help save lives from sudden cardiac arrest. We are delighted to work once again with HeartSWell, this time to provide an AutoPulse device to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and we look forward to supporting them in the future to help improve the chances of survival from cardiac arrest.’

Find out more about the support offered by HeartSWell by visiting www.heartswell.org.uk