News / Lerwick hyperbaric centre given £15k cash boost
SHETLAND Hyperbaric Centre has welcomed a grant offer of £15,000 from the Viking community benefit fund, which could open the service up to people in the coming months.
The therapy supplies concentrated oxygen under pressure to users in a sealed chamber.
It is most closely associated with the recovery of divers suffering from ‘the bends’ after ascending too quickly from deep water.
However it can also benefit patients with a variety of conditions, including multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, long Covid, fibromyalgia, migraine and post-stroke effects.
The centre said that some Shetland patients had experienced “dramatic improvements” after using the hyperbaric chamber, including being able to walk several miles after being bedridden.
A hyperbaric service was offered intermittently in Shetland, beginning in 1985, however the building at Gremista in Lerwick has now been disused for almost 20 years.
Shetland Hyperbaric Centre is aiming to make substantial improvements to the building – including insulation, a new heating system and improved toilet facilities – to provide therapy in a warm, welcoming environment under the supervision of trained staff.
It said that currently anyone wanting to use hyperbaric facilities had to travel outwith Shetland, with the Lerwick chamber potentially eliminating that expense.
The centre’s chairman Alan Ockendon said they were “delighted and very grateful” to receive the offer of grant aid from the Shetland Community Benefit Fund.
“£15,000 is a very welcome sum that will allow us to move a step closer to achieving our goals,” he said.
“A restored chamber has the potential to transform the lives of many who currently struggle with their conditions.
“If all goes well, we expect a limited version of the service to be available within the next few months.
“However, more funding is needed, and we would welcome offers of sponsorship or one-off donations from Shetland businesses, which could be in cash or in kind.”
Anyone wishing to find out more can visit the Shetland Hyperbaric Centre page on Facebook, or email shetlandhyperbaric@hotmail.com
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