The Newport West AM says that new defibrillation equipment, which will be based at Newport Rail Station, will give heart attack victims a much greater chance of survival.

“Research shows that when a shock can be given within five minutes of someone collapsing, over a quarter of patients survive,” she said.

The money for the equipment will come from a new £140,000 Assembly fund for defibrillation machines in busy shopping centres and rail stations throughout Wales.

Defibrillators deliver controlled electric shocks and the sooner the shock the greater the chance of survival. The Welsh Ambulance Service is being given the money by the Assembly to train their staff at Newport to use the defibrillators and administer basic life support.

December 20