THE NEWTON Abbot branch of Nationwide will be one of the company’s 605 branches to have life-saving defibrillators and bleed control kits installed.

In what is thought to be the UK’s largest-ever combined rollout, the building society, which now has more branches than any other banking provider after overtaking Lloyds Banking Group, has promised to keep all branches open until at least 2030.

The rollout, which will see the kits installed from now until the end of the year, is being done in partnership with Visa, with St John Ambulance working alongside Nationwide to offer life-saving training for colleagues and local communities.

Severe bleeding remains a leading cause of death after traumatic injury in the UK and of the 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the country each year, fewer than one in 10 people are estimated to survive3.

But if a patient is defibrillated within three to five minutes of collapse, survival rates increase by up to 70 per cent.

A national poll of over 2,000 people conducted by Nationwide highlights the gap in emergency support within communities.

Despite the need and support for life-saving equipment, there is a gap around public confidence in using resources.

More than one in four (27per cent) wouldn’t feel confident stopping a severe bleed, while 31 per cent wouldn’t feel confident using a defibrillator.

To help build public confidence, Nationwide is working with St John Ambulance to roll out volunteer-led training in life-saving skills.

This opportunity will be offered to 4,000 branch colleagues before expanding into ‘Heart of Community’ sessions, giving local people the knowledge and confidence to carry out CPR, use defibrillators and understand how to treat a severe bleed in an emergency.

Amanda Beech, Nationwide’s Director of Retail Services, said: 'Nationwide’s unique reach as the UK’s largest branch network gives us the ability to put life-saving equipment where it matters most - in places people already know and trust in their communities. By transforming our branches into visible, emergency hubs, we’re making it easier to access help when every second counts.

‘Crucially we’re also offering training to all our branch colleagues, before extending that training into the communities we serve. We want more people to feel prepared, confident and ready to act when it matters most.’

St John Ambulance Chief Medical Officer, Professor Andrew Hartle, said: ‘We’re so pleased to work with Nationwide and Visa on this project, which so perfectly meets St John Ambulance’s mission to put the power of first aid into everyone’s hands.

‘With hundreds more public access defibrillators and bleed control kits across the UK, and thousands more people confident to use them, I am confident many more lives will be saved in our communities.’

The kits will be available 24/7 unless within a shopping centre and can be accessed by the public as directed by 999.