Sydney

Prince of Wales Hospital
Department of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine

Barker Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9382 2222, Fax: +61 2 9382 3882
Email: m.bennett@unsw.edu.au

Main Treatment Chamber

This is a three compartment chamber which lends itself to great flexibility in the number and types of treatments that can be undertaken simultaneously. The maximum patient capacity is three on trolleys, fifteen seated or various combinations of the above.

The facility also has the capacity for future expansion with space allocated for an additional two compartment treatment chamber adjacent to the main chamber.

Technical Specifications

• Maximum pressure - 3.4 ATA (24 metres)
• Length - 6 metres
• Diameter - 3.6 metres
• Weight - 20 tonnes
• Volume - 80 cubic metres

The chamber is pressurised from the hospital air ringmain with an emergency air bank and HP compressor as backup. Oxygen/mixed gas/air is supplied to the patients from multiple cylinder banks. All compartments are monitored by closed circuit video cameras and there are two communication systems to maintain contact with the staff and patients. The temperature and humidity of all compartments is automatically controlled with hot and chilled water coils fitted above the compartment ceilings. Internally fitted fire hoses and a fire deluge are fed from a separate high pressure fire system.

Research Chamber

A separate, single compartment, 11 ATA (100 metres) has been commissioned as a dedicated research chamber. This is controlled and monitored from the main console but is isolated from the main chamber and patient areas.

Unit History

The Hyperbaric Unit opened at the Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay in February 1971. As part of a consolidation of the Eastern Suburbs Hospitals the unit commenced to move to The Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick in January 1995. This move was completed in March 1996. In the intervening period that the unit was closed, patients were treated at the Royal Australian Navy's chamber at HMAS Penguin, Balmoral.

Personnel

Dr Michael Bennett ...... Medical Director
Dr Ian Unsworth ...... Visiting Medical Officer
Dr Jan Lehm ...... Hyperbaric Consultant
Dr Barbara Trytko ...... Hyperbaric Consultant

Gabrielle Janik ...... Office Manager

Chris Mitchell ...... Nursing Unit Manager
Greg Melbourne ...... Hyperbaric Nurse
Sam Costa ...... Hyperbaric Nurse
Jo James ...... Hyperbaric Nurse
Annabel Dominguez ...... Hyperbaric Research Nurse

John Kershler ...... Hyperbaric Technical Officer
Barrie Gibbons ...... Hyperbaric Technical Officer

Location

The Prince of Wales Hospital is located in the suburb of Randwick which is some 10 Kms south of the centre of Sydney. The hospital is bounded by High Street, Avoca Street and Barker Street. The main entrance to the hospital is on Barker Street.

The Department of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine is located on level one of the Dickinson Building. Ambulance access is off Avoca Street. The Helo pad is also located at the southern end of level one of the Dickinson Building.