 The Diving Diseases Research Centre (DDRC), now sited at both its purpose built headquarters on the Tamar Science Park adjacent to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth as well as St Joseph’s Private Hospital in Gwent, is a charity which aims to promote and take part in the medical treatment, training and research associated with the use of hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of diving diseases and other medical problems. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment involves patients breathing 100% oxygen while in a pressurised treatment chamber.
The Charity (Registered No. 279652) was founded 1980, and the operational HQ relocated to the first building to be erected on the Tamar Science Park site, a purpose built research and treatment facility, in 1996.
Core activity is around:
- The use of five different hyperbaric oxygen chambers to treat a variety of medical conditions and also divers with decompression sickness (DCS) 'the bends'. Medical conditions include:
- carbon monoxide poisoning
- smoke inhalation & cyanide poisoning
- gas gangrene
- diabetic wounds
- exceptional blood loss
- radiation tissue damage
- skin grafts and burns
- osteomyelitis
- delayed radiation injury
- necrotising fasciitis (the flesh eating ”bug”)
- Conducting research into diving diseases and other medical conditions with respect to the hyperbaric environment.
- Educating and training people from many different backgrounds in the uses and treatment associated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. The Training Department runs a wide variety of courses for our In House Staff Training Schemes and also for external students. Groups who have undergone training at DDRC include:
- NHS Staff – Doctors and Nurses etc.
- BBC Film Crews (The Blue Planet, War Wrecks of the Coral Sea)
- British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit
- European Technical Dive Centre
- Hong Kong Fire Service
- United Arab Emirates military
DDRC is very proud of its charitable status which ensures that all excess of income over expenditure is invested in the aims and objectives of the Charity.
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