Bluebird Care’s franchise support centre have invested in an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for the local town.

Across the UK only 2% of calls 999 operators respond to have had an AED deployed at the scene by the time they arrive according to the Resuscitation Council, this is due to very few being installed as well as little awareness of this lifesaving equipment. By having an AED at the scene and if effective CPR is performed within 3-5 minutes of cardiac arrest the chances of survival increases from 6% to 74% (defibshop.co.uk).

A defibrillator is needed when an individual is suffering a cardiac arrest and defibrillation is essential to saving someone’s life during this time. Training is not required to use an AED, they are easy to use and can save someone’s life.

By investing in this piece of equipment Bluebird Care’s location is now registered with Heart Safe and The South-Central Ambulance Service. Should this equipment be required, when someone calls 999 the control room operator will give the building’s location to the caller and the AED can be used.

Bluebird Care’s national training manager, Nick Griffiths, who pushed to get this life saving equipment for Bluebird Care commented:

By investing in this life saving equipment Bluebird Care are supporting our local community and ambulance service by having a defibrillator readily available at the scene. As a franchise, Bluebird Care is a market leader in home care and are in a position to increase awareness of Automated External Defibrillators, not just in our community but across all of our offices in the UK. We would encourage every Bluebird Care office across the UK to consider investing in this lifesaving equipment for their own communities.

Bluebird Care’s AED is available to access during open hours, Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5pm.

anuary 2018 sees the launch and provision of home care services by Bluebird Care East Devon in the communities of Axminster and Seaton. A rural region of Devon where the need for consistent and quality care is arguably even more vital.

Bluebird Care East Devon is run locally by husband and wife team, William and Sara Flint. Since opening their first Care Hub in Exeter in 2011 they have now delivered well over 650,000 hours of care to local people who want to remain independent, safe and cared for in their own homes. Over the last six years, they have expanded with Care Hubs in Exmouth and Honiton.

Director of Bluebird Care Exeter and East Devon William Flint said:

Sara and I believe that the quality of our services are the underpinning feature of what we do and what we stand for. Our award-winning team based in East Devon and led by Registered Manager Kirsty Warren provide a great foundation from which to start broadening the reach of our home care services in East Devon and provide our unique service of tailored care visits to the communities of Axminster and Seaton.

Director of Bluebird Care Exeter and East Devon William Flint said:

I am so proud of our team’s achievements in the last year. None more so than with Care Assistant Debbie Foxford winning Care Worker of the Year in The Great British Care Awards. To be building on this success and delivering care to more customers in the communities where most of us grew up, makes us all incredibly proud to care.

Bluebird Care Axminster & Seaton launches in January 2018 and will provide a range of services including:

• Personal care
• Help round the home
• Companionship and enabling
• Dementia care