MPs back campaign to scrap VAT on defibrillators

On 23 October 2024, the British Healthcare Trades Association held a parliamentary drop-in event calling on MPs to support the Scrap the Heart Restart Tax campaign.

The campaign is fronted by 20-year-old cardiac arrest survivor Jack Hurley, who collapsed while playing football in June 2023 and was saved because a defibrillator was available at his local club.

Jack’s experience shows why access to a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death. The campaign is calling for VAT to be removed from these lifesaving devices, helping community groups, sports clubs, schools and local businesses afford to install more of them.

Scrapping the tax could reduce the cost of purchasing a defibrillator by as much as £500.

Strong support in Parliament

More than 65 parliamentarians attended the Westminster event, including opposition frontbenchers and members of the Health and Social Care Select Committee.

The event was held ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, giving MPs and peers the opportunity to hear directly from Jack and the campaign team and pledge their support for change.

Following the event, Jack and BHTA Chief Executive David Stockdale delivered the campaign petition to 10 Downing Street.

More than 85,000 people had signed the petition, calling on the Government to remove VAT from defibrillators and make these devices more affordable for communities across the country.

The event marked another important step in building parliamentary and public support for the campaign.

Removing VAT from defibrillators, replacement pads and batteries would help money raised by volunteers and local organisations go further -

and make it easier to place lifesaving equipment where it is needed most.

You can sign the petition to scrap the Heart Restart Tax here.

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