Chamber used to treat divers with bends is shut
OPERATION of the hyperbaric chamber at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital has been suspended until further notice.
A spokesman for Health & Social Care said Emergency Department staff helped with decompression treatment. The service could not be prioritised at this time as all available resources were being prioritised to deal with the pandemic.
All commercial divers have been advised and commercial diving, other than that required in an emergency, has ceased during the lockdown.
Scallop diving is not considered essential and any fishing being undertaken by diving should cease immediately.
Even with careful planning and restriction of diving depth, it was not possible to rule out completely the occurrence of diving-related illness, and provision for a medical first aid and evacuation plan remained mandatory for all diving.
This kind of emergency planning is likely to be compromised during the current conditions of self-isolation and personal protection, as well as by the scarcity of medical resources.
Recreational diving has been suspended in the UK as directed by all dive organisations.
Islanders are reminded that diving is not considered exercise and it should not be taking place during the two hours allowed per day.
Anyone who ignored the advice and decided to dive needed to be aware that they would require full insurance for medical transfers to the UK, as well as any Emergency Department and ambulance charges, should they need treatment for decompression illness, creating additional pressure on an already overstretched NHS.
