A new defibrillator has been installed outside Glenalla Community Centre in Llanelli’s Bigyn ward, as part of a growing campaign to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
Town councillor Shaun Greaney, who has personally part-funded two defibrillators in the town, said the latest unit was mounted on a post previously used for a community waste bin. “The council’s initiative to increase and improve defibrillators in our town will help combat the deadly disaster of what I think are appalling survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Llanelli, which are similar to those across Wales – currently less than 5 per cent,” he said.
The rollout coincides with a major change in emergency response protocols across Wales. The Welsh Government has introduced a new ‘purple category’ for 999 calls involving suspected cardiac arrests, ensuring faster prioritisation for the most critical cases. Health Minister Jeremy Miles described the move as “decisive action to save more lives.”
Councillor Greaney, a member of the Save Our Services Prince Philip Action Network (SOSPPAN), said he welcomed the change. “It means those with cardiac arrests, who have the most urgent needs, are prioritised over people with less critical problems like breathing difficulties,” he said. “This helps ambulance teams reach people with the most urgent needs more quickly.”
Councillor Jan Williams said the new defibrillator at Glenalla Hall on Alban Road was “a vital aid in an emergency.” She added that it “makes the Bigyn area much safer and will give comfort for local residents.”
County and town councillor Phil Warlow said the device was “an item of First Aid should anyone in the area experience sudden cardiac arrest.” “Its purpose is to restore a normal heart rhythm,” he said. “The Town Council is working extremely hard to get all areas within the town covered by this extremely important lifesaving equipment.”
The defibrillator and its heated cabinet were donated by the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, with the location approved by the county council.
