MEDIA RELEASE
Immediate Release
DDRC Healthcare Take On the BHA National Diving Accident Helpline
Plymouth based hyperbaric medicine charity DDRC Healthcare have taken over the staffing of the
British Hyperbaric Association’s (BHA) National Diving Accident Helpline on 07831 151 523. This
emergency number is used nationally and internationally by divers, dive clubs, dive centres, the
Coastguard, Emergency Departments, GPs and members of the public to gain assistance in
emergency situations where Decompression Illness or a hyperbaric medical emergency such as
Carbon Monoxide poisoning is suspected.
The BHA National Diving Accident Helpline will be staffed by specialist diving and hyperbaric doctors,
24 hours a day, 365 days a year and will continue the current high level of service by providing
speedy advice and guiding access to emergency recompression therapy across the country. The
telephone number will remain unchanged and under the overall supervision of the BHA. In
emergency situations DDRC Healthcare will provide assistance and help callers to access the most
appropriate or nearest hyperbaric facilities to the patient.
In Scotland, diving emergencies will continue to be dealt with by the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on
0345 408 6008. For a diving emergency occurring at sea, the Coastguard should continue to be first
point of contact and in a life‐threatening emergency, call 999.
DDRC Healthcare is a UK registered charity (no. 279652) and we are glad to be able to provide this
service for divers, as part of delivering our charitable objectives.
END
Contact Details:
Kathryn Epps Marketing & Fundraising Manager
Tel:
01752 209 999
Direct:
01752 237142
Email:
[email protected]
Address:
DDRC Healthcare, Hyperbaric Medical Centre, Research Way, Plymouth Science Park,
Plymouth PL6 8BU
Website:
www.ddrc.org
Twitter / Facebook
@DDRCPlymouth
Notes to Editors:
 DDRC Healthcare used to be called the Diving Diseases Research Centre.
 DDRC Healthcare delivers hyperbaric medical treatment, research and diver safety education
activities.
 DDRC Healthcare provides a 24/7 emergency on call service to treat decompression illness
(aka DCI or‘the bends’), carbon monoxide poisoning, gas gangrene and necrotising fasciitis.
 The DDRC Healthcare emergency number is 01752 209 999.
 Approximately one third of patients treated by DDRC are divers with decompression illness
(DCI aka ‘the bends’).
 The majority of patients receive routine hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy for conditions
including: non‐healing diabetic foot ulcers (which are often heading for potential
amputation), tissue damaged by radiation therapy for cancer and other hard to heal
wounds.
 The hyperbaric medical centre contains the largest hyperbaric chamber in the South West.
The ‘Krug’ chamber can take 9 patients. There are also 2 other smaller chambers and 1
mono‐place (single user) chamber.
 The Diving Diseases Research Centre, as it was once named, was established in 1980 at Fort
Bovisand in Plymouth and relocated to a purpose built facility in the then Tamar Science Park
in 1996. (Now Plymouth Science Park.)
 DDRC Healthcare is the only hyperbaric medical centre in England which is also a registered
charity (no.279652).
 DDRC Healthcare is a European Centre of Excellence for hyperbaric medicine and works on a
number of international research activities exploring how hyperbaric oxygen (HBO)
treatment works and it’s efficacy in treatment of various conditions.
 DDRC Healthcare has two trading subsidiaries: DDRC Professional Services and DDRC Wound
Care.
 The Senior Management Team consists of Medical Director Dr Christine Penny, Chief
Executive Officer Dr Gary Smerdon and Operations Director Mr Peter Atkey.