A GP organisation with practices across Birmingham and Sandwell have taken delivery of their first two pieces of kit which can help patients in life and death situations.

Modality Partnership runs 19 GP practices across Birmingham and Sandwell, delivering primary and specialist care. Earlier this month, West Midlands Ambulance Service donated defibrillators to their Smethwick and Hollybush medical centres; devices used to help restart the heart of someone in cardiac arrest.

In a bid to further support the Trust’s initiative to increase the number of defibrillators in community settings, Modality plan to install defibrillators at each of their remaining sites. Dr Mina Gupta, Lead Managerial Partner at Smethwick Medical Centre and The Hollybush Medical Practice, said:

“We’re proud to receive two automated external defibrillators from West Midlands Ambulance Service. This allows us to enhance our partnership with WMAS in providing the best care for our patients in the Smethwick & Hollybush localities.”

Andy Jeynes, Community Response Manager for Birmingham and the Black Country, added:

“It’s common sense that a doctors’ surgery has a defibrillator as it’s a place where almost 200 people a day who are already feeling unwell visit each day. The defibrillator is an easy piece of equipment to use and even tells you what to do which means it’s not just a device that doctors can operate, anyone can use a defibrillator to help save the life of a person in cardiac arrest.

“The quicker CPR and a defibrillator can be used when someone’s heart has stopped beating, the better the chances are of survival.”