Prince of Wales Hospital’s hyperbaric chamber – a piece of history

Hyperbaric medicine has been part of the Prince of Wales Hospital for a decade, but the chamber used to treat 14 patients a week is more than 40 years old.

The 1963 piece of machinery was first commissioned at Prince Henry Hospital in 1971. It was relocated to Prince of Wales in 1996 and remains the only civilian hyperbaric chamber in New South Wales.

It is the oldest hyperbaric chamber in Australia, yet it provides about 225 patients a year more than 3700 treatments.

Hyperbaric medicine uses pure oxygen to treat conditions including decompression illness or the bends, gangrene, troublesome wounds, compromised skin grafts and exceptional blood loss.

The patients come from across the State and their needs vary from diving and climbing injuries to cancer patients of all ages suffering the ongoing effects of prolonged radiotherapy, as well as diabetics with ulcers that no longer respond to standard treatment and potentially amputation candidates.

Patients sit or lie in the big chamber, depending on their mobility, and the pressure is increased to levels equivalent of diving 14 to 18 metres under water.

Through a hood the patients are given 100 per cent oxygen for one and half hours. Nursing staff assisting the patients also take the oxygen for the remaining 20 minutes of treatment time to protect them from risk of the bends.

Air pressure is returned to normal and the patients resume their activities. Patients generally receive daily treatment for up to six weeks.

Hyperbaric Unit Medical Director Dr Rob Turner is part of an experienced team of specialised medical and nursing staff including six medical consultants, five nurses and two technicians.

In addition, the unit holds a series of education sessions each year to teach international doctors in the South Pacific, as well as other nurses, about hyperbaric medicine.

Dr Turner said the work undertaken at the Prince of Wales Hospital unit had become very much appreciated, particularly by those involved in radiation.

“We’re seeing a greater variety of patients come through the unit and we’re treating up to 14 people a week,” Dr Turner said.

Dr Turner said the unit was currently waiting on the outcome of a health technology program grant submission.

Media contact

Melissa Chain, 9382 8226 or 0421 618 793