The Tasmanian Government’s safe hyperbaric strategy is in place with the installation of the temporary multi-place chamber at the Royal Hobart Hospital on Saturday, 3 December 2016.

Patients can be assured they will have ongoing safe access to hyperbaric oxygen treatment.

Collins Street between Campbell and Argyle Streets was closed until around 1pm, while the temporary multi-place hyperbaric chamber was craned into place over Hobart’s rivulet by hyperbaric chamber specialists, Fink Engineering.

The temporary multi-place chamber is part of the Tasmanian Government’s $12 million investment in hyperbaric medicine during the RHH Redevelopment.

The multi-place chamber has been leased for the duration of the K-Block build so that full hyperbaric oxygen treatment capability is maintained, to treat divers who suffer decompression illness.

The RHH Rescue Taskforce recommended that the decommissioning of the existing multi-place hyperbaric chamber be brought forward to eliminate risk from its close proximity to construction, and ensure continuity of service.

The temporary chamber has been installed away from the direct impact of the construction on the Collin Street side of the current hyperbaric facility.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is a well-known treatment for decompression illness. It assists by squashing bubbles which form in the blood and tissues after divers have been exposed to pressure underwater.

It is also used to treat other conditions that affect many Tasmanians every year - tissue injury from radiation treatment for cancer, diabetic wounds and serious infections such as gangrene for example.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment also helps restore normal healing of wounds where healing has been delayed. When receiving treatment inside the hyperbaric chamber, patients breathe more than 10 times the amount of oxygen that is available at sea level breathing air.

A new hyperbaric facility will also be built on level 3 of the new K-Block and will be able to treat 10 patients simultaneously.

04 Jan 2017