What We Do
We provide a 24/7 Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Emergency Service. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, medical training, medical examinations and research.
Staff modelling as patients sitting in the Krug Multiplace chamber
We are specialists in Diving Medicine and Hyperbaric Medicine.
We deliver treatment, research, education, training, medicals and wound care services.
Delivering Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO / HBOT)
We provide a 24/7 Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Emergency Advice and Treatment service. Our hyperbaric chambers are used to treat divers with decompression illness (‘the bends’) and our skilled, experienced physicians are on call to manage and coordinate diving and hyperbaric medical emergencies.
Whilst we are best known for treating divers with Decompression Illness (DCI) or ‘the bends’ (see our ‘What is DCI?’ fact sheet) divers only account for around one third of our patients.
We use Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) therapy to treat an approved list of conditions where it has been internationally agreed that the use of HBO is effective.
HBO therapy involves patients breathing 100% oxygen whilst inside a pressurised treatment chamber.
We work closely with the NHS to support both emergency and non-emergency patients. Private patients can also receive treatment here.
Professional Services offered
The excellent facilities and skilled staff that we have are further utilised through our trading companies to provide specialist Training, Medicals and Consultancy Services for the diving, hyperbaric, medical, offshore/renewable energy, maritime and security sectors.
Many of our Training Courses and Medicals are nationally and internationally accredited, but we can also offer bespoke training packages to meet our clients specific needs. The majority of our clients join us in Plymouth but we can deliver services across the world, on shore and on board.
Additionally, our Tissue Viability Nurses offer private wound care services with an emphasis on treating difficult to heal wounds, including leg ulcers. We are working to find ways to deliver these services with the NHS in future.
How is the organisation set up?
We operate as a Not-For-Profit Organisation, we are a member of the British Hyperbaric Association and we are regulated by the UK Care Quality Commission (CQC).
DDRC Healthcare is a UK registered charity regulated by the Charity Commission.
DDRC Professional Services and DDRC Medical Services are trading subsidiary companies which donate any profits generated to support the work of the charity.
The NHS funds treatment of the majority of our emergency patients and some non-emergency, elective patients, whilst our charity funds the treatment of many other patients.
What does the charity aim to do?
The charity has three key purposes:
- Research: to extend knowledge and understanding of matters related to hyperbaric illnesses, treatment and environments. Our research is widely published and we produce various resources.
- Education: to improve diver safety and diving accident management. Wider education to extend the understanding and use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO or HBOT) for a range of conditions where adequate evidence exists of efficacy.
- Treatment: through use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for a range of emergency and non-emergency patients’ conditions.
Our experienced Diving Physicians answer calls to the British Hyperbaric Association (BHA) ‘National Diving Accident Helpline’ and offer ‘Fitness to Dive’ advice which is not funded by the NHS. We see this as a vital part of our charitable work for the diving community.
A range of diver safety education resources are available for divers on this website.
If you want to know more about what we do please get in touch or arrange a ‘Talk & Tour’ with us.