Microsoft has recently announced a new partnership alongside the British Heart Foundation, the NHS and New Signature to try and save those at risk of cardiac arrest by mapping out the locations of heart defibrillators in the UK through the use of Microsoft Azure.
By showing the locations of heart defibrillators in the UK, it will enable 999 call handlers to inform people who are assisting a cardiac arrest patient where the nearest device is.
The business owners of heart defibrillators across the UK in workplaces, train stations, leisure centres and public places will need to make sure that they register their device with the partnership. The information that they provide will be securely stored in Microsoft Azure, Microsoft’s cloud computing service which will only be accessed by the ambulance services in the case of an emergency.
This system will also send out reminders to owners to regularly check their defibrillators and confirm that they are in a good working order, in case they are required.
In their recent post on Microsoft News Centre, Microsoft said that they hope that this partnership will be able to save the lives of thousands of people at risk of cardiac arrest each year. They revealed that there are 30,000 cardiac arrests outside of UK hospitals annually but only 10% of those survive. This is in stark contrast to survival figures in Norway (25%), North Holland (21%) and Seattle in the US (20%).
It is also hoped that the partnership can work together to make sure that the technology is used to capture heart data from cardiac arrest patients, that could then be sent to the doctors treating them.
“There is huge potential ahead in the impact that technology will have in digitally transforming UK healthcare,” said Clare Barclay, chief operating officer at Microsoft. “This innovative partnership will bring the power of Microsoft technology together with the incredible vision and life-saving work of BHF and the NHS. This project, powered by the cloud, will better equip 999 call handlers with information that can make the difference between life and death and shows the potential that innovative partnerships like this could make to the health of the nation.”
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