To the Diving Community:
TGH would like to set the record straight on the TGH Hyperbaric chamber and the types of patients it is treating. We appreciate that this is of great interest and importance to the Diving Community, and we will continue to listen and respond to your concerns.
As of March 11, 2004, TGH stopped accepting critically ill patients who need to be on a stretcher during treatment. This is about 4 to 6 patients a year, most of who have non-diving related injuries. This decision does NOT affect patients who do not need a stretcher during treatment, the vast majority of the patients who are treated in the TGH Hyperbaric chamber. This is about 70 patients a year and we are continuing to treat and provide care for them.
The Senior Management team at University Health Network (TGH, TWH and PMH) made this decision on March 11, 2004 immediately after they received the conclusions of a University Health Network Occupational Health and Safety Assessment report. At the same time, Senior Management also made the decision to purchase a new Hyperbaric chamber to replace the current interim one. We are now speaking to a manufacturer as to the requirements we need, and we do know that it will more than likely be able to accommodate at least two patients on stretchers.
The Toronto Police Service, Toronto Fire Services, both their medical consultants, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the Ontario Ministry of Labour, the Ontario Commisioner of Public Safety, as well as specific groups in the Diving Community such as the Ontario Underwater Council, the Canadian Association of Diving Contractors and DAN were notified of these decisions after they were made by UHN Senior Management.
Since the interim chamber was installed in 2002, also with prior notification and the agreement of the Toronto Police, Toronto Fire Services (and their medical consultants), the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ministry of Labour, our Hyperbaric staff have treated a small number of patients who needed to be on stretchers in our multiplace chamber. It became apparent with each subsequent treatment that the amount of space available in the chamber for both patients on stretchers and the staff treating them was not adequate. This took some time to determine due to the small number of cases that are treated in this way in the chamber.
As a result, at the request of staff, UHN initiated an assessment through the UHN Occupational Health and Safety Department. The report concluded on March 11, 2004 that the small space created by having a stretcher in the current interim chamber would make it difficult to give optimal care should staff have to deal with an emergency such as cardiac arrest, a seizure, or the spilling of bodily fluids from the patient. In treating patients on stretchers, other risks to our staff were also indentified, such as the potential of deep vein thrombosis and other injuries.The Ministry of Labour has been given a copy of the UHN report and has agreed with our course of action. It is our responsibility to prevent such possibilities from occurring as soon we become aware of them, and that is why UHN acted swiftly and decisively on the same day, and also decided that a new Hyperbaric chamber was necessary.
TGH will keep you updated as to our progress and any new developments will be posted on this site. TGH would like the Diving Community to hear the correct facts from us rather than rely upon rumours or misleading interpretations. Thank you for your attention and consideration of this update. We appreciate the chance to listen to your opinions and address your concerns.
