Pictured: Dave Foulkes preparing for a 3.8km swim in Derwent Water

Most people know that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is used to treat divers when they get decompression sickness (the bends). Less known is that HBO is used for a number of other conditions including hard-to-heal wounds, diabetic foot ulcers or radiation tissue damage, and for rarer but sometimes life threatening conditions, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, air / gas embolism or necrotising tissue infections. 

Dave Foulkes now knows much more about HBO, since a close family member was treated at a hyperbaric facility for a rare, non-diving related, condition. Subsequently he got in touch with our charity, DDRC Healthcare and found out about the research that we are undertaking to better understand how hyperbaric oxygen therapy works, and the ways in which the benefits of treatment can be maximised for different conditions. 

As a result, Dave decided that he would help to raise money for DDRC Healthcare’s research by doing a sponsored swim. He took on the huge challenge of one of the Epic Lakes Swim series, a 3.8km open water swim at Derwent Water. This is how he got on…

“Well, I completed the swim this morning in a pitiful 1hr 18mins. I put the slow time down to getting cramp in one arm. Had to use just the other one and ended up swimming round in circles! It went very well really and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Anyway, I just want to thank you all most sincerely for all your very kind donations. It really does mean an awful lot to me …

The Diving Diseases Research Centre [now DDRC Healthcare] contacted me last week and were also delighted and very appreciative of the funds raised.

A special thanks to Jo too for introducing me to open water swimming and advice about the cold! Thanks Jo. And to Heather for putting up with early alarms and running hot baths! 

The total raised so far is £1035 which is way beyond my expectations, so many thanks again.”

Dave Foulkes

A HUGE WELL DONE & THANK YOU from all at DDRC Healthcare Dave.

If you want to sponsor Dave’s efforts you can contribute at http://www.justgiving.com/Daves-BigSwim 

DDRC Healthcare Training Officer, and well known diver, Jon Parlour, attended the annual Kernow Dive Festival last weekend, and brings us this report of all the diving, fun and fundraising …

More than 60 divers from South West BSAC branches attended this year’s Kernow Dive Festival at Penzance. Dave White and Chris Lobb (who was unable to attend on the weekend) coordinated the planning, with Paul Stevenson from Seahawk SAC (RNAS Culdrose) taking on the dive planning for the first time this year.  

Sadly the weather was uncooperative again this year with winds from the south gusting to 30mph there were few remaining dive options.  A few divers enjoyed successful dives in Mount’s Bay, out of Porthkerris and on the wreck of the Volnay, where visibility was 8-10m.

As is now tradition, the barbecue, raffle and auction were held at Cardinney Campsite west of Penzance, where most of those attending the weekend were staying.  The barbecue was organised and chefs supplied by members of Ilfracombe and North Devon branch, who also provided the enormous marquee seen in the photo. They did a great job in preparing cauldrons of tasty curry, burgers, sausages and many other culinary delights.

East Cornwall club, with support from local breweries, provided a choice of five different casks of real ale and lively fruit punch.  I think they over-estimated our capacity to consume real ale. Maybe it was because the Exeter University SAC didn’t attend this year. Apparently last year we ran out of beer, not that I noticed!

Allen and Sarah (Totnes) did a great job in encouraging donations for the raffle and auction, and then on the night were equally successful in relieving us of cash for tickets.  For Allen, as treasurer, the work is not yet over.  Once everything is tidied away and everyone has gone home, Allen still has the accounts to sort out.

John Adams organised the special edition ‘Kernow 2013’ T shirts from Fourth Element and on the night of the barbecue provided great entertainment as MC for the auction, motivating us all to bid competitively for the excellent lots on offer.

The following people and organisations very generously donated raffle prizes and items for the auction:

For the auction:

Fourth Element a Core Body Warmer      

Gary Fox of Dive Action, from his hardboat Cornish Pussy, 2 days of diving for 4 people out of Falmouth   

AP Valves, a Buddy self-sealing SMB with mini-cylinder inflation    

For the raffle:

Bude Club donated a days diving for 2 from their RHIB 

Totnes club gave a bottle of malt whisky

Ilfracombe club donated a hard boat trip to Lundy Island diving for a buddy pair of divers

Plymouth Sound club gave a free dive for a buddy pair from their RHIB

Mid Cornwall Divers donated a days diving for 2 people, north or south coast depending on tides and wind, and a Betty Stoggs gift set!

Peninsula SAC gave a day’s diving for 2 people 

Shelley Tasker Photography Studio gave a free family photo session

Castaways in Mylor Harbour kindly donated a voucher for £20 off a meal in the restaurant

Dave White and Chris Lobb donated a McMahon SMB reel

BSAC, DDRC Healthcare and Suunto each donated a bag of goodies

East and Mid Cornwall Divers each gave bottles of wine together with lots of Rodda’s clotted cream and other dairy delights

Beer: Many thanks to East Cornwall Divers who generously donated all the beer (5 casks) that was on offer in the beer tent.

As I am sure you will agree, great generosity on the part of the divers and those who made such attractive donations. 

The final figures are still being worked on but we believe this year’s event raised over £2,000 for DDRC Healthcare, which is absolutely fantastic and brings the total raised for DDRC by Kernow Dive Festivals to well over £20,000. 

THANK YOU to all involved. 

Pictured: The Krug multi-place chamber in our Hyperbaric Medical Centre

We currently have two exciting opportunities for the right candidates to join our team at DDRC Healthcare, at the Hyperbaric Medical Centre in Plymouth. The posts are as a Marketing & Fundraising Assistant and Junior / Middle Grade Doctors, as follows; 

2 x Junior Doctor / Middle Grade Doctor: Combined Diving & Hyperbaric Medicine and Emergency Medicine. 

There are two 6 month positions available, once commencing in February 2014 and one in August 2014.

The posts are jointly offered by DDRC Healthcare and Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. The post will work an average of 6 sessions per week with DDRC Healthcare at the Hyperbaric Medical Centre in Tamar Science Park, and 4 sessions per week in the Emergency Department of neighbouring Derriford Hospital, which is the largest teaching hospital in the South West. 

DDRC Healthcare is a charity providing hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy for elective and emergency patients for conditions including decompression illness (DCI), tissue damage secondary to radiotherapy and diabetic foot ulcers or other non-healing wounds. 

Training will be provided in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine and successful candidates will be encouraged and funded to enrol in the Postgraduate Certificate in Remote Healthcare run by the Peninsula Medical School. 

We are looking for doctors with a minimum of 2 years experience post qualification. You must have full registration with the GMC or be eligible to become fully registered. 

Further details including job descriptions, person specifications and application forms can be found via our Jobs page of our website http://www.ddrc.org/index.cfm

Marketing & Fundraising Assistant (part-time up to 20 hours)

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and engaging individual to this new position, created to work closely with our Marketing & Fundraising manager. 

Pictured: Dr Matt Waterman receives a donation from Dan & Georgina Wooler

We are looking for someone with a relevant degree or equivalent experience, preferably of both marketing and fundraising. Previous work in a charity, healthcare or training organisation would be useful. 

You will need to be well organised, with excellent administrative, written and inter-personal communication skills. A flair for design and/or photography, and an ability to use design and image software packages would be beneficial. 

The overall aims are to; build our profile, engage more people in our work, increase understanding of our products and services, and to generate more income. 

This is an opportunity to work for a really interesting organisation which delivers medical treatment, training and research work. 

Contact Louise Walsh, Marketing & Fundraising Manager on 01752 237142 or louise.walsh@ddrc.org if you wish to discuss this post. 

Further details including job descriptions, person specifications and application forms can be found via our Jobs page of our website http://www.ddrc.org/index.cfm

Pictured: Ali, Sarah and Jo from Plymouth Wound Care

My Experience at the DDRC Plymouth Wound Care centre

Over the years I have been forced to manage pressure sores. For those who have had any experience with sores, they will know that it really is a hit and miss affair. The sores are not only a source of anxiety, as they are prone to infection, they also can stop me from taking a full part in everyday life, not least because thy make you feel so unwell. Just imagine feeling as though you had the ‘flu all the time!

By chance I met members of the DDRC at the Birmingham Dive 2011 exhibition who encouraged me to visit their Wound Care centre in Plymouth. I duly purchased a train ticket from London and headed to Plymouth for a long weekend. In total I attended the clinic for three/four visits and the total experience was very positive, as not only did I learn about wound care but I felt I was part of the team looking after my body.

All the care I received was based on a scientific based research approach. The wound was thoroughly cleaned with diluted tee-tree oil and silicone based gauze was used to cover the wound. I was taught how to look after the wound between each visit. The wound healed within 6 weeks, much to everyone’s amazement! I had been managing this wound for over a year.

My wish would be that everyone suffering from the effects of pressure sores could have access to the knowledge and care that I was so fortunate to receive.

All that remains is for me to say that I cannot express my gratitude enough to the dedicated team at Plymouth Wound Care who have in essence given me back my health and independence. Much as I would like to meet you all again, I would rather not have any more wounds J.

Keep up the good work. Best Wishes, 

Caroline 

NOTE: Plymouth Wound Care is a not-for-profit trading subsidiary of the charity DDRC Healthcare. We would like to thank Caroline for sharing her story with us. 

What it’s like being the HCA!!!!?

Well since day 1 here it’s been a learning experience every day, especially coming from a GP surgery. I couldn’t have been more welcomed by so many people.

The staff are so supportive and grateful for the smallest job you do, to help the day. I smile from the time I get into work and I am still smiling when I leave – all this smiling makes my face ache. If you want to learn something there is always someone to teach you – no matter what it is.

Pictured: Cathy caught in the kitchen getting some tea and toast for a patient. 

Being involved with patient care in the time we have is fabulous. Patients don’t always have the opportunity to get the attention in surgeries and on wards that they require, so when they come here to DDRC Healthcare it’s so nice to have the time to be able to listen to their stories and help if we can.

My time so far has educated me in ways that I would never expect to experience. The support from all the other members of staff has helped me understand equipment and what we use them for, demonstrations on how to use them, and why we use them. Being here is pure education all day long but in an atmosphere that you can’t beat.

I wish all places had a little bit of what we have here, it makes life nice.

By Cathy Durham, Health Care Assistant, DDRC Healthcare

Jon Parlour is a long standing member of our Training Team and is very well known amongst the diving and hyperbaric communities nationally and internationally.

As well as being a DDRC trainer, a BSAC National Instructor and a DAN Instructor Trainer, it appears that Jon was on the very first UK held PADI course back in June 1981 and he has just received a certificate and glass trophy to acknowledge his outstanding service as a PADI member for over 30 years. 

To put this in to a cultural context, back in mid 1981 the UK music charts included Adam and the Ants ‘Stand & Deliver’, Michael Jackson ‘One Day In Your Life’ and The Specials ‘Ghost Town’!

Well done Jon from all at DDRC Healthcare and DDRC Professional Services on your achievements. 

DDRC Healthcare CEO Dr Gary Smerdon is pictured congratulating Jon Parlour on his achievement, at the Hyperbaric Medical Centre in Plymouth

Plymouth Wound Care recently hosted a study evening at the Hyperbaric Medical Centre in Tamar Science Park, organised by ConvaTec COMPLETE(TM) Education.

The free education event was interesting and very informative. The agenda was as follows:

·         Dr Gary Smerdon (Chief Executive of DDRC Healthcare and Director of Plymouth Wound Care and Ali Bishop (Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist and Director of Plymouth Wound Care) discussed Plymouth Wound Care.

·         Exudate – Friend or Foe, Denise Woodd (Independent Tissue Viability Nurse)

·         Dressing Selection, Lisa Martin (Clinical specialist, ConvaTec)

·         ConvaTec upgrades and Additions Jacqui Evans (Account manager, ConvaTec)

The evening was extremely well attended and was another fun and informative evening for professionals with an interest in tissue viability to meet and develop their knowledge. It also gave professionals an opportunity to discuss any issues and was a great source of information and support.

We await details of the next free education event from ConvaTec.

The next Tissue and Wound Interest Group (TWIG) meeting will be hosted again by DDRC Healthcare at the Hyperbaric Medical Centre, Tamar Science Park, Derriford, Plymouth on Tuesday 25^th June 2013 at 1845 hrs.

The Plymouth T.W.I.G is a group that meets quarterly to share and discuss BEST PRACTICE in tissue and wound care.

The next meeting will include:

‘PRESSURE ULCERS’ Presentation from Pia Prince Matron - Tissue Viability Service at Derriford hospital.

There will be a light buffet and refreshments included.

To book your place at this FREE meeting please phone or email:

Jacqui Evans on 07817 152770 or Jacqui.evans@convatec.com

We recently had a visit at our Hyperbaric Medical Centre in Plymouth from the 1st Tavistock Scout Group, who visited with Scout Leader, Dr Kim Wade. To tell us about their experience, this Guest Blog has been written by scout Emma Sampson. 

Pictured: Dr Cathy Hanauer in the midst of the 1st Tavistock Scout Group

“I really enjoyed the visit to the DDRC’s centre because I felt I took away a lot of information that I would never have come across without the opportunity to see the centre. 

I found both aspects of looking around the chambers, and asking questions, thoroughly interesting because we could ask questions that were relevant to us, about things we wanted to know and they pitched the information in an interesting and informative way.

I would definitely recommend that more people/groups of young people should visit and learn about the charity as it surprised me in how many ways the facilities can be used and by such a range of people and illnesses.

It is a charity which should be supported more by the wider community for it’s great work.This would also help it with further research.”

THANK YOU to Emma and all of her scout group, for visiting us and for providing this Guest Blog.

More information on our Talks, Tours & Pot Dives can be found on our website. 

Although DDRC Professional Services delivers training around the world this was the first time we have received a request to run training courses in the South Pacific. Tahiti, French Polynesia, conjured up images of blue skies, clear warm water and sandy, palm fringed beaches, so there was added motivation for taking on the assignment.

Fortunately, fellow Training Officer Tim Mockridge and myself were able to make ourselves available on the dates requested and flew out via Paris and Los Angeles.  

DDRC Professional Services (DDRCPS) has had a longstanding relationship with the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KSLOF), providing both Chamber Operator and Advanced First Aid for Diving Emergencies training for their staff for more than six years.

Tim and I were based on the 67 metre M/Y Golden Shadow, which is equipped with a two compartment recompression chamber in support of scientific diving operations.

The Founder of the Living Oceans Foundation, His Royal Highness Prince Khaled bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz has always had a love of the oceans. In September 2000, he took the initiative to make positive change in the world by establishing the KSLOF, dedicated to conservation and preservation of our precious living oceans for the sake of generations to come.

We ran parallel courses with myself leading on the chamber operations training and Tim the Emergency Medic Technician (Diver) programme. It’s an intensive programme with theory sessions in the mornings, practical chamber skills in the afternoons and private study tasks in the evenings. During the afternoon sessions the chamber operators are driving the system with the EMT(D)s inside looking after the ‘patients’. The participants learn increasingly complex skills during the course and towards the end have to deal with unplanned events and emergencies during a therapy.

On the final day there is a full team scenario; recovering a diver casualty from the water, transferring them back to M/Y Golden Shadow and into the recompression chamber for treatment. The scenario tests everyone’s skills, team working and communication with others on board the research vessel. The patient’s condition during the treatment is reported to a diving medicine specialist and their advice acted upon by the team members.

As usual Golden Shadow’s 10 ‘students’ represented a full cross section including the Captain, deck officers, engineering officers, divers and the nurse. A couple had attended previous DDRCPS training, some had experience of diving and for others it was completely new. They all worked hard and made excellent progress through the courses. The end result is an effective and competent team who will be well able to recognise and take appropriate in the event of a diver injury or decompression illness.

DDRC Professional Services specialised training ensures that KSLOF personnel are confident in providing an effective response to an incident, particularly when they are working in isolated locations. As we wrapped up the course and prepared to return to the UK the scientists were arriving on board in preparation for their next mission in the Austral and Cook Islands. 

By Jon Parlour, Training Officer at DDRC Healthcare & DDRC Professional Services

The ‘Diving Diseases Research Centre (DDRC)’ has entered a new phase in its development and to reflect this the name of the organisation has changed to DDRC Healthcare. We feel that this better expresses and represents our wider range of healthcare activities.

Dr Gary Smerdon, CEO and Research Director explains “We work to improve the understanding and use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. HBO is now used to treat a wide range of conditions and only around one third of our patients are divers. With our growth in provision of training and treatment services, alongside the research work, it felt as though our name no longer represented all our different activities.”

Keen diver and Medical Director, Dr Christine Cridge, adds “Choosing a new name was not an easy process! Our charity is well respected, nationally and internationally, and we were keen to build on existing support, particularly from the diving community. We will continue to provide 24 hour emergency medical services, support, education and research to divers. The DDRC Healthcare name allows us to acknowledge and retain an element of our heritage, whilst becoming more widely relevant to our current breadth of patients and customers, attending for medicals, courses or wound care.”   

Marketing and Fundraising Manager, Louise Walsh, said “We have been working with fellow Tamar Science Park residents Real Fusion as our creative agency. They helped us to create our new brand, visual identity and have built our fantastic new website at www.ddrc.org .”

The charity was started in 1980 from a small boatshed at a dive centre before moving in 1996 to a purpose built facility at the Hyperbaric Medical Facility in Plymouth’s Tamar Science Park.

DDRC Healthcare is a charity but it also has two not-for-profit trading subsidiaries. DDRC Professional Services and Plymouth Wound Care. DDRC Professional Services provides specialist training, consultancy and medicals, primarily to the diving, maritime, offshore and medical markets and has also adopted the new identity. Plymouth Wound Care provides private, high quality wound care services to the public.

Pictured: Dr Gary Smerdon cuts the cake with Dr Christine Cridge & staff

To celebrate the launch of our new name, website and brand identity, staff, customers and patients enjoyed an amazing cake creation made by ‘Funky Mamas’.

Pictured: The cake shows our multi-place ‘Krug’ hyperbaric chamber, a nurse, a Decompression Illness poster and a patient with a nasty wound, waiting to be healed!