News
NHS public consultation on hyperbaric chambers closing date extended to 16 March
NHS England recently launched a month-long public consultation on its proposal to cut the number of its chambers from 10 to eight, driven by a reduction in hyperbaric treatment for non-diving related conditions. The proposed cut could have a significant knock-on effect for rapid and effective Decompression Illness (DCI) treatment for divers and increase crucial travel time to the nearest chamber.
With the public consultation set to end on 16th March, BSAC is against the reduction and has now outlined its concerns directly to NHS England. Going further, BSAC has called for an increase in the number of chambers to ensure sufficient coverage is obtained.
Working with the British Hyperbaric Association, British Divers Safety Group (BDSG), Diving Diseases Research Centre (DDRC) and the London Hyperbaric Chamber, BSAC hopes the detailed response will lead to a re-think. BSAC’s Chief Executive Mary Tetley said that the diving community was deeply concerned about the proposal.
“There is already a lack of current nationwide coverage, in particular in the north of England, which highlights an existing issue with capacity. Reducing the number of chambers even further could lead to a delay in essential treatment for a diver with DCI. Longer travel times before recompression reduce the effectiveness of treatment, increasing the chance of long-term damage to the diver, or in the worst cases, an unnecessary fatality. This is not an acceptable risk and we urge NHS England to reconsider,” said Mary Tetley.
Please contribute to the review by completing the consultation survey before the 16th March closing date.
Click here to read BSAC’s full response to the Hyperbaric Oxygen Services Review.
News
Dive Worldwide Announces Bite-Back as its Charity of the Year
Over the next 12 months, specialist scuba holiday company Dive Worldwide will be supporting Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation with donations collected from client bookings to any one of its stunning dive destinations around the world. The independently-owned operator expects to raise £3000 for the UK charity.
Manager at Dive Worldwide, Phil North, said: “We’re especially excited to work with Bite-Back and support its intelligent, creative and results-driven campaigns to end the UK trade in shark products and prompt a change in attitudes to the ocean’s most maligned inhabitant.”
Bite-Back is running campaigns to hold the media to account on the way it reports shark news along with a brand new nationwide education programme. Last year the charity was credited for spearheading a UK ban on the import and export of shark fins.
Campaign director at Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’re enormously grateful to Dive Worldwide for choosing to support Bite-Back. The company’s commitment to conservation helps set it apart from other tour operators and we’re certain its clients admire and respect that policy. For us, the affiliation is huge and helps us look to the future with confidence we can deliver against key conservation programmes.”
To launch the fundraising initiative, Phil North presented Graham Buckingham with a cheque for £1,000.
Visit Dive Worldwide to discover its diverse range of international scuba adventures and visit Bite-Back to learn more about the charity’s campaigns.
MORE INFORMATION
Call Graham Buckingham on 07810 454 266 or email graham@bite-back.com
Gear News
Scubapro Free Octopus Promotion 2024
Free Octopus with every purchase of a SCUBAPRO regulator system
Just in time for the spring season, divers can save money with the FREE OCTOPUS SPRING PROMOTION! Until July 31st SCUBAPRO offers an Octopus for free
with every purchase of a regulator system!
Get a free S270 OCTOPUS with purchase of these combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with A700
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with S620Ti
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with D420
MK25 EVO Din mit S620Ti-X
Get a free R105 OCTOPUS with purchase of the following combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with G260
MK25 EVO or MK17 EVO with S600
SCUBAPRO offers a 30-year first owner warranty on all regulators, with a revision period of two years or 100 dives. All SCUBAPRO regulators are of course certified according to the new European test standard EN250-2014.
Available at participating SCUBAPRO dealers. Promotion may not be available in all regions. Find an authorized SCUBAPRO Dealer at scubapro.com.
More information available on www.scubapro.com.
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