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NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee Champions Bystander CPR Training

The NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (NWJCC) has launched a new initiative to empower staff with life-saving CPR skills, beginning with a hands-on training session during its recent Team Day in July.

Led by Ross Whitehead, Director of Commissioning for Ambulance Services and 111, the session highlighted the critical role of bystander CPR in the ‘Chain of Survival’—a series of actions proven to improve outcomes for patients experiencing cardiac arrest.

The training focused on four key stages:

• Early Recognition – Identifying warning signs to prevent cardiac arrest
• Early CPR – Delivering chest compressions to maintain circulation
• Early Defibrillation – Using a defibrillator to restart the heart
• Post-Resuscitation Care – Supporting recovery and quality of life.

Throughout the day, staff participated in small-group practical CPR training, using inflatable dummies and kneeling pads.

The dummies emitted a clicking sound when the correct compression depth was achieved, helping participants learn the correct technique of pressing “hard and fast” in the centre of the chest.

Ross Whitehead also demonstrated how 999 operators guide callers through CPR, including pacing compressions with audio cues and locating nearby defibrillators. He emphasised that while traditional CPR included rescue breaths, current best practice prioritises chest compressions—especially for those uncomfortable with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

“These steps are vital to increasing survival rates during cardiac arrest,” said Ross. “Having more people aware of, and trained in, CPR can make a critical difference before emergency services arrive.

"We’ve had brilliant feedback from staff—some refreshing their skills, others learning CPR for the first time.”

One participant shared:
"I’ve always worried about what I’d do in an emergency, but this training gave me the confidence to act. The hands-on practice and clear guidance made it feel achievable. I now feel prepared to help if someone collapses nearby."

The NWJCC plans to make CPR training a regular feature of future Team Days, with hopes to inspire other NHS Wales organisations to follow suit.

“We thought it would be well received but the strength of the feedback got us to thinking about encouraging everyone across NHS Wales to take a similar approach.

“Between us all, if we can help everyone in our organisations feel more confident about responding as a bystander in an emergency,” Ross added, “then we’re taking a meaningful step toward saving lives in Wales.”

ENDS