Building firm donates 400 defibrillators in the fight against coronavirus

Defibrillators being handed over by Build Manager, Mike Attfield, before being distributed to St John Ambulance.

The company is donating the defibrillators, usually used on its construction sites, to St John Ambulance.

St John Ambulance is now on the frontline supporting people and communities through coronavirus, helping to take the strain from the NHS.

It has started a nationwide appeal – called Take the Strain – to source desperately needed equipment to help it in the vital role it is playing, including 1,000 defibrillators.

Responding to the call for help, the country’s biggest housebuilder has committed to donating the defibrillators from all its sites - an estimated 400 worth more than £300,000.

Teams from Barratt are urgently gathering up the defibrillators from their sites across the country so they can get them to where they are needed in the next few days.

As part of its response to support the fight against coronavirus, Barratt Developments has also donated £100,000 to the NHS Charities Together appeal.

David Thomas, chief executive of Barratt Developments, said: “We are pleased to be able to donate this equipment where it is urgently needed – to help St John Ambulance who are on the frontline, supporting the NHS and helping to save lives.

“We are seeing an amazing collective effort by businesses, communities and individuals.”