HYPERBARIC

DDRC Healthcare invests funds in a research team that is growing in expertise and developing links with renowned academic institutions worldwide.

We treat medical emergencies including decompression illness (DCI or the bends), carbon monoxide poisoning, smoke inhalation, and soft tissue infections such as necrotising fasciitis and gas gangrene.We also specialise in providing treatment programmes for patients with non-healing wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), and the treatment of damaged tissues in cancer patients who have undergone radiotherapy.

It is within the context of these specialities that our research portfolio has grown and issues surrounding diving and wound healing form the heart of our research.

All aspects of our research are being conducted as collaborative efforts with national and international research partners, including universities and medical schools, hospitals such as the Royal Marsden, organisations such as Cancer Research UK and healthcare professionals.

As our knowledge of mechanisms and applications grows, the huge potential of hyperbaric oxygen(HBO)therapy for diving and wound healing are beginning to be fulfilled. Only with continued investment in research will the potential of this treatment be realised and made available to help treat a diverse range of medical conditions.

Providing a robust evidence base for the uses of HBO is increasingly important in the context of increasing pressures on NHS funding and the commissioning of highly specialised services.