Doctors Courses

The Diving Diseases Research Centre (DDRC) this year is commencing training courses designed to provide theoretical and practical experience in diving and hyperbaric medicine for doctors. DDRC, a charity, is one of the busiest hyperbaric units in the UK with a varied clinical caseload in elective and emergency hyperbaric medicine.
Other services provided by DDRC include sports and occupational diving medical assessments and training courses for the recreational and commercial diver. DDRC also undertakes ongoing research in to diving and hyperbaric medicine. Given this environment, DDRC is ideally placed to provide training in diving and hyperbaric medicine to doctors. Attempts are being made at standardization of training in diving medicine across Europe and further a field. Courses have been developed in line with the international Diving Medicine Advisory Committee (DMAC) which has based a recommended curriculum on the recommendations from the joint committee of European Diving Technology Committee and the European Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine.
Level I (Medical Examiner of Divers) enables doctors successfully completing the course to proceed to apply to become an HSE Approved Medical Examiner of Divers (AMED). Few refresher courses exist that are aimed specifically at the ongoing professional development of the medical examiner of divers, but the DDRC Level I refresher course has been designed specifically with this in mind.

Courses include:

Level I - Medical Examiner of Divers
Competent to perform the periodic "Fitness to dive assessments" of working and recreational divers and compressed air workers.
Any individual wishing to become an HSE AMED needs to then contact the HSE.

Level IIa - Diving Medicine Physician
Competent to perform the assessment of working and recreational divers or compressed air workers.
Can manage diving accidents and advise diving contractors and others on diving medicine and physiology (with the back-up of a hyperbaric expert or consultant).

Primary Hyperbaric Medicine Course
This course is designed to meet the needs of a doctor embarking on a career in hyperbaric medicine and looks at the current recommendations for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and ongoing research and developments.