Spending spree for Filton Chest and Heart charity

Filton residents will be pleased to hear that they are again at the centre of our recent spending spree, which is a huge achievement for a local charity that specifically supports Filton residents with a lung or heart condition.

Luke Packer and Vicky Chamberlain accepting on behalf of Conygre Road Surgery with Clare Hayward

This time we have purchased Masimo Oximeters for Conygre Road Surgery and Horfield Medical Centre which enable the Practice Nurses to take your blood pressure, your temperature and your heart rate all at the same time. Luke Packer was particularly pleased with the new equipment as it replaced an ancient unit used over many years.

Horfield Medical Centre were also keen to receive their updated unit, which was first seen at Southmead Hospital following a recent campaign by Masimo. The units have additional attachments which allow them to be used on adults and children, including babies, so a very useful piece of equipment.

Carol Miles, Marian Parry, and Russ Smith–Guardian accepting on behalf of St Andrew’s Methodist church with Clare Hayward and Sylvia Johnson

The second purchase was to upgrade the defibrillators held by the churches and Community Centre in Filton. These units are often seen on the outside of public buildings and are carried by the Ambulance service, who are always highlighting the fact that cardiac arrest does not discriminate and can happen to anyone, of any age, at any time!

The statistics are alarming - cardiac arrest kills more than 60,000 people, of all ages, in the UK each year. If a heart defibrillator is used within 3-5mins of a cardiac arrest, the chances of survival increases from 6% to a huge 74%.

I am pleased to tell you that Filton is extremely well served by defibrillators.

Debbie Nicholls accepting on behalf of St Teresa of the Child Jesus Church with Clare Hayward

There are four public ones paid for by Filton Town Council and maintained by the South West Ambulance Service situated at Filton Sports & Leisure Centre, Elm Park; Greggs, Gloucester Road North; the Spar Shop, 535540 Filton Avenue; and Bethany Hall, 48 Meadowsweet Avenue, Filton .

Each primary school in Filton– Filton Hill, Shield Road and Charborough Road have defibrillators as well as the secondary school – Abbey Wood and when the young people move on to using The FACE Youth Centre, they also have a unit so our children are kept safe at all stages. So Filton Chest & Heart Committee decided to bring up to date the remaining community spaces so purchased pads and 'Rescue Ready Kits' for the Centre in Elm Park as well as the churches, where more elderly residents are often found.

It is with great pleasure that our funds went towards the upkeep of these defibrillators held in St Teresa’s, St Peter’s and St Andrew’s churches and Filton

Clare Hayward with, above, Beckie Jones, Café Manager St Peter’s Church; right, Peter Maynard, Manager of Horfield Medical Centre; and left, Margaret and David Gillard of Filton Community Centre

Community Centre, ensuring that wherever a resident is taken ill in the Filton area there is help available.

However having defibrillators is only useful if there are people around who know how to use them. See our advert below about a talk being given by Sharon Kirwan, Assistant Responder Officer from South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust at St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Gloucester Road North, Filton on Tuesday 11th July. All welcome.

Clare Hayward

Filton Chest and Heart

Talk given by Sharon Kirwan, Assistant Responder Officer, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust about Defibrillators.

Refresh your memory with the latest up to date information about Defibrillators. The talk will cover what to do in an emergency, how to use one, what help you can give before the Ambulance service arrive and many other questions you may have.

Tuesday 11 July 2023 1pm until 2pm

St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Gloucester Road North, Filton. Parking in the car park behind the church or in the car park attached to Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton, Bristol.