Solihull West & Shirley MP Secures Support from Local Housebuilder for Life-Saving Defibrillator
09 June 2025
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Member of Parliament for Solihull West & Shirley, has welcomed the backing of local housebuilder Persimmon Homes Central in his ongoing campaign to expand access to defibrillators across the constituency.
Persimmon Homes, who operates throughout the Borough, has generously funded the installation of a defibrillator and cabinet to be located at a suitable site within Solihull West & Shirley, further strengthening the community’s emergency response infrastructure.
Dr Shastri-Hurst MP, launched the initiative earlier this year to increase the availability of public defibrillators and raise awareness of their critical role in saving lives. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) causes 100,000 deaths in the UK each year and there are 60,000 incidents of SCA each year in community settings. Using a defibrillator within three minutes of a cardiac arrest can improve a person’s chance of survival by as much as 70%.
A better provision of defibrillators and increasing the number of people trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, could help save more lives of those who have a cardiac arrest outside a hospital setting.
Commenting on the support, Dr Shastri-Hurst said:
“Timely access to a defibrillator during a cardiac arrest can increase the chance of survival by up to 70%. Every second counts when someone is experiencing cardiac arrest and improving access to these life-saving devices, alongside wider CPR training, can significantly enhance outcomes for those experiencing cardiac arrest outside hospital settings.
I am sincerely grateful to Persimmon Homes for their generous support. Building a defibrillator network across Solihull West & Shirley is lifesaving work and this contribution is a meaningful step forward in protecting lives in our community.”
Neil Williams, Managing Director at Persimmon Homes Central said:
“When we heard about Neil’s campaign, we were only too happy to lend our support. The difference these life-saving devices can make is huge and we would encourage other local companies to come forward and contribute to this vital campaign and increase the provision of defibrillators for local people across the Borough.”
