The health services offered to divers suffering from “the bends” have been extended to include Orkney and Oban, in addition to the primary service in Aberdeen.
The chambers in the west coast and Northern Isles will now be part of the National Hyperbaric Service, which provides medical treatment and advice for diving related illness.
NHS National Services Scotland commissions the National Hyperbaric Service to ensure there is a safe and sustainable hyperbaric medicine service for people with decompression illness across Scotland.
In addition to the main Category One chamber provided by NHS Grampian in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, the independent hyperbaric chambers in Oban and Orkney are now included in the service and therefore receive guaranteed NHS funding to provide treatment for divers suffering from suspected diving decompression illness.
Dr Mike Winter, National Services Scotland said: “It is important to have the appropriate number of hyperbaric chambers in the right places to balance access to care with maintenance of specialist skills, in order to provide a safe and sustainable hyperbaric medicine service for divers across Scotland. The three chambers will operate as a national service ensuring that anyone who requires hyperbaric oxygen therapy for diving decompression illness will be able to access it.”