Community effort sparks defib installation in Stalybridge village

A COMMUNITY has come together to ensure a village in Stalybridge now has access to a life-saving device. 

It stemmed from Stalybridge and Dukinfield Rotary’s mission to increase the number of defibrillators in the area.

Rotarian Steph Fitton was made aware a few months ago that her local GP surgery, Millbrook Medical Practice, had begun fundraising for a defibrillator for the village.

The practice’s operations manager, Katy Matthews, worked closely with the Patient Participation Group to raise funds for the device that delivers an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm or restart a stopped heart.

Steph said she contacted the practice manager and they worked together to install the defib, matching funds raised by the group along with donations from the Primary Care Network and the Rotary.

With support from staff at Manor Pharmacy in Millbrook and another Rotarian Graham Fitton, the box and defib was fitted to the outside wall of the pharmacy.

The device is in an ideal location, close to the shops in the heart of the village and will serve nearby estates.

Katy expressed her pride in the patients and staff of the practice, off Grove Road, for supporting a worthy cause.

“The idea of raising funds for a defibrillator in Millbrook village initially came from the practice’s patient participation group and we worked together to drive this forward,” she said.

“We held an Easter raffle, which raised £150, and gtd healthcare, the organisation that manages Millbrook Medical Practice, donated another £150.

“The practice and wider organisation is passionate about contributing to the wellbeing of local communities.

“We will continue to work with Dukinfield and Stalybridge Rotary, and other like-minded organisations, to support initiatives that will bring wider health benefits to the communities in which we work and potentially save someone’s life.”

Thanks to Gemma at 'The Correspondent' for this above article.