Government say no to paying for defibrillators

There's disappointment and dismay from campaigners after the Government said it won't pay for potentially life-saving equipment in public buildings and schools.

The North West has two major charities calling for defibrillators to become compulsory in workplaces - they're run by the former Bolton player Fabrice Muamba. The other by the father of 12 year Oliver King, who died at school in Liverpool.

Oliver, was a pupil at King David High School in Childwall. He died during a swimming lesson from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS), which kills 12 young people across the country every week.

Oliver's family believe he would've survived if a defibrillator was available to him.

Since then his family has set up a campaign to get more of the potentially life-saving machines in public buildings. As a result 122 defibrillators are to be installed in Liverpool's schools .

Every primary school in the city is getting one but unfortunately the scheme won't be extended.

Today the Government ruled out taking further action to put potentially life saving defibrillators into all public buildings. Calls to screen young people have also been rejected.

The Government has made the statement after an e-petition got more than 22,000 signatures.