Supporting CQC Compliance and Safer Patient Care

Emergencies in GP surgeries are unpredictable, but your response shouldn’t be. Whether it’s a sudden collapse in the waiting room or a severe allergic reaction in a treatment room, primary care professionals are increasingly expected to act as first responders. The tools available on-site, from AEDs to fully compliant first aid kits, can make the difference between stabilising a patient and waiting helplessly for paramedics. Today, emergency preparedness is not just about equipment. It’s about confidence, compliance, and responsibility.

Why Primary Care Environments Carry Elevated Risk

GP practices experience over 300 million patient visits per year in the UK. These high-contact settings carry an inherent risk of on-site emergencies from cardiac events to severe allergic reactions. Recent CQC guidance has made it clear: surgeries must not only have emergency equipment in place but also maintain it, check its status regularly, and ensure staff understand how to use it. Yet across the UK, many surgeries:

• Still operate older AED models without paediatric capabilities.
• Have expired defibrillator pads and out-of-date first aid kits
• Lack clear signage or documented routine checks

As public safety policies evolve, including emerging regulatory trends like Martyn's Law, expectations around emergency preparedness and visible life-saving equipment are set to increase. Preparing now isn’t just smart; it’s futureproof.

AEDs in GP Practices: Compliance and Confidence

Defibrillation within three minutes of a cardiac arrest can significantly improve survival outcomes, with studies showing survival rates double or even triple when an AED is used promptly. This makes AED placement and maintenance a critical clinical decision, not just a safety measure. We recommend the Lifepak CR2 AED for GP surgeries trusted by the NHS and fully aligned with Resuscitation Council UK guidelines. It offers:

• CPRInsight™ real-time feedback
• Dual adult/paediatric capability
• Wi-Fi enabled auto-testing
• Long shelf-life pads and battery

To explore all available units for clinical settings, visit our defibrillator range.

First Aid Kits: Beyond the Basics

Many first aid kits on surgery premises are standard retail kits suitable for homes, not clinics. The BS8599-1 standard defines what a compliant kit looks like for a professional environment. This includes contents tailored to likely incidents in your setting and regular reviews to ensure nothing is expired or missing. Our compliant first aid kits are designed for GP practices and available in multiple sizes based on patient volume. You’ll also find burn dressings, eye wash stations, PPE, and bleed control kits all aligned with CQC inspection expectations. More practices are also moving toward formal CPD recognition for first responder training. Our team can support this with accredited training sessions.

Designed for Primary Care: The Essentials

We’ve curated an essential list curated specifically for surgeries seeking inspection confidence, clinical readiness, and long-term reliability. Essentials:

• A Lifepak CR2 AED (semi- or fully automatic)
• A BS8599-1 compliant first aid kit sized to your patient volume
• A bleed control station for trauma incidents
• Installation, storage, signage, and expiry management setup
• Optional CPD-accredited AED and first aid training

This meets inspection requirements while giving your team what they really need: clarity, accessibility, and the right equipment when it matters most.

Where and How to Store Emergency Equipment

Effective storage is just as important as the kit itself. Equipment should be:

• Accessible within 90 seconds from key areas
• Clearly signed
• Wall-mounted where possible for visibility

Ideal surgery placement includes reception desks, triage rooms, staff areas, and main hallway junctions. Adopting this storage will help to align with CQC advice and NHS protocols.

Taking the Next Step

Being prepared for emergencies is no longer about ticking compliance boxes. It’s about upholding clinical standards, protecting patients, and instilling staff confidence. When your equipment is modern, visible, and well-positioned, it sends a message: we’re ready. We care. We act. If your current kit needs updating, or if you’d simply value a second opinion before inspection, you’re in good hands. To get a full grasp of what would help your GP, you can browse our full primary care collection. Choose preparation, choose confidence and let safety lead the way.