DDRC Healthcare is a not-for-profit organisation and a registered UK charity based on Plymouth Science Park in Plymouth and specialised in diving medicine, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and medical training.

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is used either to prevent tissue death, for instance if surgery is planned in an area that has been previously exposed to radiotherapy, and help in treatment of already damaged tissue, for instance bowel damage after radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

HBO cannot resurrect dead tissue but can help stimulate small blood vessel growth into tissue damaged by radiotherapy, so improving function of the tissue and improving healing.

HBO can help areas of bone not yet dead but affected by the radiotherapy. This not only can help prevent further bone death, but can help make it more obvious during surgery which tissue is likely to survive and which needs removal. HBO before and after dental work has been recognised to help prevent this bone death in people who have had radiotherapy.

When a person undergoes radiotherapy for a problem such as prostate or cervical cancer, as the other organs in the pelvis are in close proximity – they too can be affected. HBO can help improve what are often troublesome and uncomfortable symptoms.

HBO hyperbaric oxygen therapy