#hyperbaric training

By Peter Atkey, Operations Director at DDRC Healthcare and President of the EBAss Accreditation Committee

Christopher Bryan is the latest member of our hyperbaric chamber team to achieve certification under the European Baromedical Association (EBAss) and European College of Baromedicine (ECB) scheme. 

Pictured: Peter Atkey presenting the certificate to Chris Bryan

Chris has achieved qualification as European Certified Hyperbaric Chamber Operator (ECHCO); his achievement is not insignificant as it is the culmination of a lot of hard work and study over the past couple of years.  Chris is in fact the first English person to have undertaken qualification via EBAss/ECB on-line examination. He is not our only staff member to hold ECHCO but all the others achieved their certification via the ‘Grandfather’ route for experienced personnel and this route is no longer available.

EBAss and ECB have been working together since 2006 harmonising training and qualification standards for hyperbaric chamber personnel across the whole of the European Union. DDRC Healthcare has been at the forefront of this effort and indeed was instrumental in production of the examination system. 

The EBAss Accreditation Committee meets twice per year to progress our goals and it is great to be part of this international collaboration.  The scheme was launched in 2010 and for the first 2 years experienced personnel could apply for certification provided they could produce evidence showing acceptable levels of experience in the field as either a chamber operator or as a hyperbaric nurse, who would then be certified as European Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse (ECHRN).  This ‘Grandfathering’ route has now come to an end. All new applicants must go through laid down structured training culminating in successful completion of our independent on-line examinations.  This examination is available in 6 languages, ensuring personnel from a large number of countries can benefit from these qualifications.

We at DDRC Healthcare are very proud that all our hyperbaric chamber staff are either qualified under this scheme or are working towards qualification. We feel that achieving these qualifications shows our commitment to safety and quality.  All our patients can be comfortable in the knowledge that our staff are highly qualified and properly understand how these treatments must be applied.

By Lawry Lawrence, DDRC Chamber Superintendent

DDRC now has five newly qualified hyperbaric chamber attendants, of whom four have successfully progressed and become fully qualified multiplace chamber operators and monoplace chamber attendants. The five were recruited in December 2011 as bank staff team members required to operate our hyperbaric chambers. Kit Hanson, Kieran Oates and Katrina Hallett are all three students at Plymouth University, Harry Lloyd is an ex policeman and Dee Richards is a nurse.

To complement these newly acquired hyperbaric skills, Diver Medical Technician (DMT) courses and Basic Hyperbaric Medicine courses have also been successfully achieved, these are in addition to the mandatory staff training requirements completed by our new bank staff (child protection, Fire Warden, breathing apparatus training, conflict resolution, Basic Life Support, manual handling and infection control).

This has not only increased the individual skills of each of the Chamber Team bank staff, but also enhanced the operational and effective capabilities of DDRC too. They’ve all done very well indeed and we are proud to have them in the team!

Sheena Easton runs a bespoke Sports Therapy and Injury Rehabilitation Centre in Northampton, housing a Perry mono- chamber similar to the one at DDRC. She recently successfully completed the ‘DDRC Hyperbaric Chamber Operator Course’ and provided this feedback on her experience of that course with us.

“Prior to starting the course, I was extremely anxious about coming to the DDRC as I have had no hyperbaric medicine or diving experience at all and I really didn’t know what to expect or what I’d be doing for the week. But I can truthfully say that my experience at the DDRC superseded my expectations completely.

Jon Parlour, our course lead, was a fantastic teacher. He understood my lack of experience and tailored the course to suit my needs without straying off the designated course content.  His approachable manner made me feel at ease straight away and allowed me to ask as many ‘stupid’ questions as I wanted!! His passion for hyperbaric medicine and diving rubbed off on me towards the end of the week as I even started to enjoy the Physics part of the course!!!

I must express that all of the DDRC staff I met on the course had the same manner and ethos as Jon did, and I learnt so much in that short week. I must say a few thank you’s to Chris, Peter, Paul and Bob, to name a few, who again shared their knowledge and expertise with me.

All I can say is that the DDRC is a fantastic Charity, which has a remarkable, committed team of people with enthusiasm and passion for what they do.”