Divers face £30k bill for bends treatment
DIVERS will have to pay £30,000 a time if they have to use Health's new rented hyperbaric chamber – a charge branded as 'ridiculous' by one man in the industry.
Donkey Divers owner Steve Bougourd said the charge had the potential of deterring divers coming to the island.
However, Health & Social Care has defended the amount.
'Even charging £30,000 does not recover anything near the cost of this facility we are providing for the Bailiwick,' a spokesman said.
Mr Bougourd said it would be far better for the treatment cost to be covered by the States, as was the case elsewhere.
And even in some places where it was not, the cost was far less.
'£30,000 a treatment is ridiculous money. In the UK it is provided on the NHS, and in Egypt, it costs £500,' he said.
'I certainly hope it does not put people off diving, we have been recommending each individual gets insurance.
'Some people say it should not, but then if you look at someone sand racing, if they injure themselves, they get to use the scanner for free.'
