Despite advances in resuscitation science and increased bystander CPR, survival from an out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains low across Wales and Scotland, lagging behind comparable countries worldwide. We can, and we must, do better.
The upcoming Senedd and Holyrood elections present a vital opportunity to drive up cardiac arrest survival rates and reduce inequalities in resuscitation. A person’s ethnicity, where they work, or where they live should not determine their likelihood of surviving a cardiac arrest, nor affect the quality of care they receive. With health and education devolved to the Welsh and Scottish Governments, targeted action can build on existing national OHCA strategies and strengthen each nation’s approach to saving lives.
Creating a CPR‑trained society will save more lives, improve public health, and enhance community resilience during emergencies. Both governments can achieve this by building on their work with partners across the resuscitation community.
These manifestos from Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) outline the next steps Wales and Scotland can take to improve survival from OHCA and ensure that every community has the skills, support, and resources needed to save a life.