LIFEPAK CR Plus Discontinued: What UK Organisations Need to Do Now

If your workplace, school, leisure facility or community space has a Physio-Control LIFEPAK CR Plus AED on the wall, there’s something important you need to know — and act on urgently.

A Device That Served Its Time

The Physio-Control LIFEPAK CR Plus was, for many years, one of the most widely trusted automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on the market. Designed to be simple enough for an untrained bystander to use, it was adopted by offices, schools, gyms, sports clubs, places of worship, shopping centres, hotels, and community venues across the UK and beyond.

Its distinctive design — a compact unit with a built-in carry handle, voice-guided prompts, and colour-coded electrode placement guides — made it a popular first choice when organisations took the step of protecting their staff, visitors, and the public.

But the LIFEPAK CR Plus has now reached the absolute end of its supported life, and if you still have one, action is needed now.

The LIFEPAK CR Plus Was Discontinued in 2019

The LIFEPAK CR Plus was officially discontinued on 1st April 2019. Physio-Control — now part of Stryker — made the decision to retire the device in order to focus on developing their next-generation AED portfolio.

That means no new CR Plus units have been manufactured or sold for over six years. Many of the devices still hanging on walls today were installed during the 2010s — some considerably earlier. Following the 2019 discontinuation, Stryker committed to continuing to supply replacement CHARGE-PAK batteries and QUIK-PAK electrode pads through the warranty period. That commitment has now also come to an end.

Critical Update: CHARGE-PAK and QUIK-PAK Pads Now Permanently Discontinued

Here’s where things become urgent for anyone still operating a LIFEPAK CR Plus.

The device relies on two proprietary consumables to function:

• The CHARGE-PAK™ — a unique combined battery and charger unit (often called the “charge stick”), which trickle-charges the internal battery and must be replaced every two years or after any use
• The QUIK-PAK™ electrode pads — the pre-connected pads used to analyse heart rhythm and deliver a shock

As of February 2026, Stryker has permanently discontinued the manufacture of both the CHARGE-PAK and the QUIK-PAK electrode pads. UK suppliers have confirmed that remaining stock is extremely limited, with some reporting lead times of 12–14 weeks even before the cutoff — and that supply will dry up entirely once existing distributor stock is exhausted.

This is not a temporary shortage or a supply chain delay. Production has stopped for good. Once the last of the remaining stock is gone, there will be no way to replace the battery or pads on a LIFEPAK CR Plus. Without in-date consumables, your defibrillator will not work in an emergency.

Who Still Has a LIFEPAK CR Plus?

Given how widely the CR Plus was adopted throughout the 2010s before its discontinuation, there are a significant number of these devices still in use across the UK. You may have one if your organisation is among the following:

Workplaces and offices — Many businesses purchased AEDs during health and safety compliance drives in the 2010s. The CR Plus was a common recommendation at the time and may not have been reviewed since installation.

Schools and colleges — Educational institutions that responded to national defibrillator campaigns often installed CR Plus units. If the device hasn’t been audited recently, it is likely overdue for replacement.

Sports clubs and leisure centres — Gyms, football clubs, golf clubs, tennis clubs, swimming pools and leisure facilities were among the biggest adopters of public-access AEDs. Many will have ageing CR Plus units that have never been replaced.

Places of worship — Churches, mosques, temples and community halls frequently installed AEDs as part of community safety initiatives. These are often low-footfall environments where devices go unchecked for long periods.

Hotels and hospitality venues — Hotels, conference centres and event venues installed AEDs to protect guests and staff. These may have been in situ for a decade or more.

Community and village halls — Local councils and community organisations were often supported by grants to install public access defibrillators. Many opted for the CR Plus at the time.

Retail and shopping environments — Large stores and retail parks that installed AEDs in the early-to-mid 2010s are likely to have CR Plus devices that are now well past their useful life.

If you’re not sure what model you have, check the label on the front or side of your device. The LIFEPAK CR Plus is clearly labelled and has a distinctive top-mounted carry handle.

The Risk of Doing Nothing

It might be tempting to leave your existing unit in place — after all, it’s been there for years and hasn’t been needed. But consider what happens if it is needed.

A defibrillator with expired or unavailable consumables is not a functioning defibrillator. It’s a box on a wall that offers false reassurance. In a sudden cardiac arrest, every second counts — survival rates fall by approximately 10% for every minute that passes without defibrillation. If your device fails at that critical moment, the consequences are devastating.

There is also a clear duty-of-care dimension. Businesses and organisations that hold themselves out as having a working defibrillator on site have a responsibility to ensure it is genuinely ready for use. A LIFEPAK CR Plus with expired pads, a flat CHARGE-PAK, or consumables that can no longer be replaced does not meet that standard.

LIFEPAK CR Plus Replacement UK: What to Do Next

With CHARGE-PAK batteries and QUIK-PAK pads now permanently discontinued, there is no long-term solution that involves keeping a LIFEPAK CR Plus in service. The only responsible course of action is to replace it with a current, fully supported AED.

The good news is that a modern replacement doesn’t have to be expensive — and in our view, it doesn’t have to be complicated either.

Our Recommended Replacement: The CU Medical iPAD NFK200

At Defib Service Group, we service thousands of AEDs every year across a wide range of makes and models. Based on that hands-on experience, the device we recommend without hesitation as a LIFEPAK CR Plus replacement is the CU Medical iPAD NFK200.

Here’s why we recommend it so confidently:

In all our years of servicing AEDs, we have never had to fail a CU Medical device or record a fault on one. That kind of real-world reliability record is rare, and it’s the most important thing we can tell you about any piece of life-saving equipment.

Beyond our own experience, the NFK200 stands out for several reasons:

• 10-year warranty — 7 years as standard, extended to 10 years upon registration. That’s one of the longest warranties available on any AED on the market
• Combined adult and child pads — a single set of pre-connected electrode pads works for both adults and children, with a simple mode-change button. No separate paediatric pads to buy or manage
• 5-year battery life — with a disposable lithium battery that carries out automatic daily, weekly and monthly self-tests to confirm the device is rescue-ready
• Clear voice prompts and CPR guidance — step-by-step audio and visual instructions with a CPR metronome, suitable for use by someone with no prior training
• Single-button shock delivery — straightforward and instinctive in a high-stress situation
• Robust, low-maintenance design — built by CU Medical Systems, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of clinical defibrillator monitors

The iPAD NFK200 is available from Defib Service Group for less than £700 + VAT — making it a genuinely cost-effective replacement for your LIFEPAK CR Plus, with far longer consumable life and full manufacturer support for a decade.

Whether you need a single unit or replacements across multiple sites, contact Defib Service Group today for a no-obligation quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still buy LIFEPAK CR Plus pads and CHARGE-PAK batteries in the UK? Stryker permanently discontinued manufacture of the QUIK-PAK electrode pads and CHARGE-PAK battery charger as of February 2026. A small amount of remaining distributor stock may still be available, but supply is extremely limited and will not last. Once it is gone, no further stock will be produced. We strongly recommend replacing your device rather than waiting.

Is it safe to keep using my LIFEPAK CR Plus? Your device remains safe to use only for as long as its pads and CHARGE-PAK battery are within their expiry date. Once those consumables expire — and can no longer be replaced — your defibrillator will not be rescue-ready. Planning your replacement now avoids the risk of being left with an unusable device.

What replaces the LIFEPAK CR Plus? Our recommended replacement is the CU Medical iPAD NFK200 — a feature-rich, reliable AED with a 10-year warranty (upon registration), combined adult/child pads, a 5-year battery life, and clear CPR guidance for untrained users. It’s available from Defib Service Group for less than £700 + VAT. We service thousands of AEDs every year and have never recorded a fault or failure on a CU Medical device — that reliability track record speaks for itself.

Does my organisation have a legal obligation to replace it? While there is currently no single UK law that mandates AED ownership, organisations have a general duty of care to staff and visitors under health and safety legislation. Operating a defibrillator that cannot be maintained to a working standard — because its consumables are no longer available — creates a clear risk and potential liability. Replacement is strongly advised.

How much does an AED replacement cost? The CU Medical iPAD NFK200 — our recommended replacement for the LIFEPAK CR Plus — is available from Defib Service Group for less than £700 + VAT. Given its 10-year warranty and 5-year battery life, the long-term cost of ownership is very competitive. Contact us for a no-obligation quote.

Defib Service Group Ltd — Supply, Installation, Servicing and Maintenance of Defibrillators across the UK

📞 Contact us today for a no-obligation quote or to discuss your LIFEPAK CR Plus replacement.