THERE has been anger over the lack of information given to Chedworth residents by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust in the case of a cardiac arrest emergency.

Chedworth Parish Council were disappointed after finding out that residents who dialled 999 in the case of a cardiac arrest were only told of defibrillators within 200 metres of their location. This distance had been recently reduced from 250 metres.

The ambulance service also did not refer residents to the Village Emergency Telephone System (VETS), run by the Community Heartbeat Trust (CHT). The service would send one of ten volunteers in Chedworth to fetch a defibrillator for the sufferer.

The parish council are now urging South Western Ambulance Service to inform callers about the defibrillators in the village and the village’s emergency phone line.

Ros Jess, chairman of Chedworth Parish Council said: “Even under the 250 metre rule, there are hardly any houses covered.

"The ambulance consider 200 metres to be the distance somebody could walk. Apparently, you can walk to the defibrillator, pick it up and walk back in time.

“It’s highly unlikely anyone is going to abandon somebody on their own in order to walk even 200m to get the defibrillator.

“South West Ambulance Service don’t acknowledge the VETS service. In a situation where you are going to be in a panic, you’re not going to think about ringing VETS.

“We would like the ambulance to tell everybody in the village that there are defibrillators available and that there are a group of people who are prepared to go and fetch one of the defibrillators.”

Ros urged villagers to make sure they had the VETS number saved in their phones and run through an emergency situation in their head.

David Broad, Chedworth parish councillor also said: “We are concerned that people won’t get the VETS service. When you find a casualty you tend to panic. It could save a life if they are told.”

A spokesperson for South Western Ambulance Service, responded to concerns: “VETS is not a scheme that involves the ambulance service and once a caller has dialled 999 they are receiving life-saving instructions so would never be told to hang up and call anyone else.

"It is imperative they remain on the line and carry out the instructions they are being given.

“The 200m radius is a well-recognised nationally used distance.

“It is widely recognised that the stress of being involved in a cardiac arrest situation is extreme so it would be wholly inappropriate to ask people to walk/run further or to drive, when under such stress.

“Chest compressions are far more effective to maintain blood flow through a heart should a defibrillator not be available within approximately four minutes.

“Chest compressions are extremely tiring so rather than exhausting someone by asking them to run further it is crucial that they are able to carry out effective chest compressions.

“The ambulance service has an award winning scheme in place across the South West, known as community first responders. This is where members of the public can be there during times of medical emergencies.

“People are recruited and trained, they carry the right equipment and have ongoing support.

“While it is understood that VETS is there to support the community, volunteers who are trained by the ambulance service alongside more community public access defibrillators are ultimately the best ways to save lives.

“The ambulance service would be keen to hear from Chedworth Parish Council to discuss how they can support our community first responder scheme and community public access defibrillators.”