Springhead community defibrillator is now available to all

A new defibrillator in Springhead has been made available to the community thanks to the combined efforts of the landlord and patrons of the Spinners Arms pub, the Saddleworth Round Table, the community group and Councillors Alicia Marland and Garth Harkness.

Local Lib-Dem Cllr Marland said: “A project was started in 2023 when two local paramedics began to crowd fund to enable a defibrillator to be purchased for their local pub – the Spinners Arms in Springhead. 

"I read their request on social media and offered to help in sourcing additional funding as I have been fortunate in getting many other defibs installed over Saddleworth and Oldham."

Cllr Marland approached the fantastic team at Saddleworth Round Table and they, along with Cllr Harkness, both provided funds towards the AED kit. 

Also a grant application was submitted by Mick Wilkin, landlord of the Spinners Arms, which covered half the cost of the defibrillator machine, and this was further supported by the Scouthead and Austerlands Residents group. 

Ryan Smith of Saddleworth Round Table said: "We are pleased to continue our support in providing essential and possibly life saving defibrillator equipment in our community.

"This is now the fifth device we have supported directly in Oldham, working with Oldham Council and partners.

"Defibrillators significantly increase the chances of survival of anyone who suffers an out of hospital cardiac arrest - so we are only too happy to play our part in increasing the number we have in our local community.

"Our direct fundraising from our successful community events fund these types of initiatives - so if you see a round table event advertised please consider attending and supporting these type of fantastic local worthy causes.”

Cllr Harkness used his Councillor budget to fund the remaining cost so it was a real joint effort by all parties to make this possible. 

He said: “I’m delighted that this has been installed and that it is available 24/7 for all the community to use. 

"It is important that these are accessible to all and I’m in full support that more defibs need to be installed across our rural areas so using the community pub is a great location.  

"A CPR and defibrillator awareness session is being run by Gareth one of the supporting paramedics at the pub on Wednesday, March 5 to give people the confidence to know what do in an emergency situation as often people don’t think they should get involved for fear of doing something wrong so I would urge people to attend.”

A defibrillator, or AED, is an emergency medical device which can deliver a controlled electric shock to try and get the heart beating normally again in the event of a cardiac arrest. 

When you call 999, the call handler will instruct the caller to begin CPR immediately – you will be told how – and to send someone else to bring a defibrillator.

You will be asked for the postcode for your location and informed of the nearest publicly available defibrillator and the entry code for the defibrillator box would be given. 

However, if you are not automatically provided this information but you know where your nearest defibrillator machine is, you can ask the ambulance call handler for the code saying that it is within a short distance from your location.

There are nearby publicly accessible defibrillator machines located at Old Mill House in Springhead, Springhead Community Centre on Ashes Lane, Cooper Street Springhead and the Three Crowns in Austerlands.

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