My name is Jack, I am 19 years old, and in June I suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while playing football. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for a defibrillator.

I’m now calling on the UK Government to scrap the VAT on defibrillators so that more devices can be installed across the country and more lives can be saved.

I don’t remember much about what happened to me – only I know that an opposition player recognised what was happening and my teammates helped to use a defibrillator to restart my heart. I was very lucky that my coach had installed a defibrillator in the club house.

Survival rates for out of hospital cardiac arrests are shockingly low at only 8%. But defibrillators can increase survival rates to as high as 70% if treatment is received within the first few minutes. In my case it was used within 6 minutes.

The problem is the average distance from a defibrillator in the UK is over 700m and not all defibrillators are available 24/7. On top of this, community groups and sports clubs fundraising for defibrillators have to pay added tax.

The VAT added to defibrillators is sometimes between £200-£500 extra per device. 

But defibrillators aren’t luxury items, they are lifesavers and I think they should be made as affordable as possible so that devices can be installed in more places. 

I’m joining the British Healthcare Trades Association on the campaign to scrap the Heart Restart Tax. If VAT is removed, for every five defibrillators in a community, there could be six.

In January 2023, the Irish Government removed the defibrillator tax in Ireland to increase affordability and reduce pressure on health services - I’m calling for the UK Government to do the same.

I know that the VAT can be claimed back by large businesses, and that the NHS, local authorities and some specific charities are already exempt from the defibrillator tax. This means the real impact of this tax is hitting community groups, sports clubs, small businesses, and private owners – this also means it wouldn’t cost much for the Government to address.

Anyone can suffer from a cardiac arrest – no matter how young or old. 

Please sign this petition if you agree we should scrap the Heart Restart Tax and get more defibrillators to where they are needed most.

Thank you!

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Follow the campaign: www.twitter.com/HeartRestartTax

For more information: www.hearttax.co.uk 

Photo: Paul Marriott, Daily Mirror