The abrupt discontinuation of NHS funding for the Oban Hyperbaric Chamber has been confirmed, prompting substantial concern within the diving community. This development effectively leaves the west coast of Scotland without an NHS registered facility to treat decompression illness, a critical service for divers.
This resulted in 39 hyperbaric sessions, because some of the divers needed several therapy sessions.
Apparently, 2019 was the busiest year in the last decade for the Oban (Scotland) based chamber. Most of the patients were recreational divers; however, commercial divers working at fish farms or in civil engineering were also treated.
Tritonia Scientific has taken over the operational management of the chamber after the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) indicated it could no longer support the facility.
This unit provides emergency treatment for divers who are suffering from decompression illness.
