'First Responder' schemes for Rathlin and Loughgiel?

A letter from A. Convery, Director of Operations at Dalriada urgent Care, said: "I wish to enquire about the possibility of obtaining funding for defibrillators. Dalriada Urgent Care is an out of hour's organisation providing primary care services in the Northern Trust area.

'In the past couple of years we have provided governance, insurance and an infrastructure for the Health Board, Trust, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) and community groups to form and run First Responder Schemes in local rural areas.

'Traditionally, First Responder schemes are set up and funded by the Board in rural areas which are considered to be 'hard to reach' areas for (NIAS).

'These are not an alternative to NIAS but are assistance for them and the local population. Volunteers from the local area are trained by the local Health Trust in first aid skills and CPR and work on a rota system with three pagers which are activated by NIAS in the event of a 999 call being made in the local area.

'They are equipped with a first aid bags and have access to defibrillators either mobile or at fixed sites. The trust also provides training updates every six months for all of these schemes in order to retain skills and momentum amongst the volunteers.

'Dalriada Urgent Care provides corporate insurance, administration and the infrastructure to co-ordinate these schemes.

'Last year we launched our first scheme in the Glens of Antrim area covering Cushendall, Cushendun and Waterfoot; the local residents already had purchased three defibrillators through donations in the local area.

'This scheme is running successfully with regular 999 call outs. We since then have launched schemes in Broughderg, County Tyrone and Slaughtneill, County Derry.

'We are in the process of setting up two others, one in Rathlin Island and one in Loughguile.

'The schemes are dependent on a grant application from British Heart Foundation (BHF) for defibrillators. This may eventually be successful but is not guaranteed and has no timescale.

'Without three in each of these areas there is the likelihood of delays and the possibility of not reaching the patient in time as one defibrillator may have to stay in a stationery position. Even worse, without any defibrillators, we cannot launch the scheme.

'On behalf of the local residents of Rathlin Island I would ask about the possibility of funding for defibrillators to get this scheme up and running. If we were to get funding for a few defibrillators we could use them on a loan basis for all new first responder schemes currently and in the future in Moyle area until grant applications from other sources are obtained to purchase their own.

'The defibrillators could be the property of the Council with responsibility for their caretaking remaining with Dalriada Urgent Care. A defibrillator costs approximately 1,000 plus VAT.

'Given the weather conditions in the past months these schemes have proved a very worthwhile venture and provide valuable support for the local community and NIAS.

'I have also copied this letter to Patricia McCurdy, Rathlin Residents Group, who has helped us set up the First Responder scheme in Rathlin, which is her local area.

'I have also sent a similar request to Magherafelt District Council which was successful and Cookstown District Council which is pending. I hope you could look on this request favourably and liaise with myself on behalf of the local residents in these areas,' said A. Convery, Director of Operations with Dalriada Urgent Care.

Moyle Council officer Maura Quinn said it is a very worthwhile cause but she said it had not been budgeted for.

Council Vice-Chairperson, Cllr Robert McIlroy (DUP), said if the Council spent money on such a scheme then the health authorities wont.

Independent councillor Randal McDonnell said who ever wants such equipment should buy their own and Independent councillor Seamus Blaney agreed.

He said some GAA clubs have them.

Sinn Fein councillor Oliver McMullan said sponsorship was used to raise funds for defibrillators in other areas and he said the scheme is "very worthwhile".

Sinn Fein councillor Cathal Newcombe said many people have training for such equipment but there is a lack of machines in the community.