Social Values

DDRC cares about social Social Values

DDRC Healthcare has treated emergency patients with hyperbaric therapy for 45 years, helping divers and patients in all aspects of their care.   As a specialist medical charity we recognise that social value is integral to our mission. Our approach embeds social value throughout our operations, from patient care to community engagement and supply chain management. By prioritising social value we aim to improve the well-being of patients, educate communities, and improve our environment whilst promoting and striving to achieve high standards of sustainable practice.

At a strategic level, we commit to social value by:

  • Raising awareness about diver safety, decompression illness and hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of iatrogenic gas embolisms through educational outreach. We work with senior clinicians, dive operators and the emergency services to improve access to potentially lifesaving treatments and promote best practices in dive safety.
  • Embedding social value in governance frameworks, ensuring ethical medical practices, striving for diversity in leadership and responsible financial management. These goals are reflected in our Organisational values developed in consultation with all staff and ground-truthed with stakeholders: Respect; Putting People First; Collaboration; Taking Ownership; Integrity; Professionalism.

At an operational level, we integrate social value by:

  • Providing equitable access to treatment by ensuring all divers, regardless of financial status, can access potentially lifesaving NHSE-funded recompression therapy enhanced by charitable support.
  • Offering clinical training at degree and postgraduate level to build expertise in hyperbaric medicine, increasing expertise in the field and enhancing employment opportunities.
  • Collaborating with recreational dive organisations, clinicians and emergency responders to improve diver safety by promoting responsible diving practices and supporting professional and timely responses to diving accidents.
  • Minimising our carbon footprint by installing and optimising energy-efficient systems, reducing waste and improving our environment. We are committed to become carbon net zero by 2050.

We ensure that our supply chain aligns with our social value principles by:

  • Prioritising suppliers who demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and environmentally friendly manufacturing practices.
  • Prioritising local and independent suppliers to strengthen regional economies.
  • Striving to reduce single-use plastics and introduce eco-friendly solutions.
  • Source suppliers who adhere to fair employment practices and carbon reduction initiatives.

By embedding social value into our strategy, operations, and supply chain we create a golden thread that reinforces our commitment to patient care, education and sustainability.  Through continuous engagement with divers, medical professionals, suppliers, and the wider community we ensure that our charity’s work not only saves lives but also contributes positively to society and the planet.

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