A CAMPAIGN throughout the North to develop a Northern Ireland portable defibrillator register is being spearheaded by the Royal Hospitals, Belfast.

At present, it is not known how many portable defibrillators there are in Northern Ireland or how many people are trained to use them. However, it is known that the number of lives saved greatly increases when defibrillators are rapidly available in the hands of trained volunteers.

A number of these defibrillators, which can administer a life-saving shock to the heart to those in cardiac arrest to re-establish normal heart rhythm, have been distributed to a wide range of sporting clubs by the Cormac McAnallen Trust over the course of the past few years.

It is now hoped that information provided by this new register will help achieve improved co-ordination and speedier responses to patients with cardiac arrest throughout Northern Ireland.

The hospital is keen to hear from any business, organisation, club or individual who has purchased a portable defibrillator. Cardiac Research Nurse, Patricia Glover, who is compiling the register, is also seeking information on the make and location of the defibrillator as well as the name of the person responsible for it and the number of people who have been trained to use it.

"It is essential to determine where portable defibrillators can be found in the community - in leisure centres, shopping malls, and other public places," said Patricia.

"By developing a single register we can help identify areas where defibrillators are, and are not, available. This can assist ambulance crews as well as identifying training and resource needs throughout Northern Ireland."

Anyone wishing to include details of their defibrillator on the new register should contact Patricia Glover on (028) 9063 4819 or email: patricia.glover@belfasttrust.hscni.net.