DDRC Healthcare

What DDRC Healthcare does

DDRC Healthcare is a UK-registered charity (no. 279652) founded in 1980, headquartered at Plymouth Science Park, specialising in diving medicine, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), and accredited medical training. Divers account for approximately one-third of its patients; the remaining two-thirds receive HBO for other conditions including radiation tissue damage, chronic wounds, and arterial gas embolism. The organisation operates a 24/7 diving and hyperbaric medical emergency service staffed by on-call teams of diving physicians, chamber operators, and chamber attendants capable of treating intensive care patients. Its facility includes both multi-place chambers (seating up to eight patients) and mono-place chambers in which patients breathe 100% oxygen intermittently through a hood or mask.

The charity operates two wholly-owned trading subsidiaries: DDRC Professional Services Ltd., which delivers accredited training courses (STCW, HSE, IMCA, DMAC certified including Diver Medic Technician, HSE Offshore Medic, and DMAC Level 1/2D), and DDRC Medical Services Ltd., which delivers occupational medicals (ENG1, HSE diving, OEUK) and recreational diving medicals. Research is a substantive function, with 78 published papers and clinical articles in collaboration with Cancer Research UK, Royal Marsden Hospital, Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit, and the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter, including trials such as HOTII, HOPON, and DAHANCA21. Course pricing ranges from £60 for an introductory oxygen administration or DARC course to £2,200 for the HSE Offshore Medic, with international delivery via a partnership at the Royal Thai Navy Hospital in Bangkok.

Revenue is generated through NHS commissioned emergency services (subject to ongoing review), trading subsidiary income, charitable donations, and fundraising (e.g., £6,500 grant from The Hospital Saturday Fund in 2026). Total turnover is approximately £2M per year. The customer base spans UK government (Ministry of Defence, Royal Navy, NHS, British Antarctic Survey, HSE), maritime and offshore (MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages, OEUK, super-yacht operators), media (BBC Natural History Unit, National Geographic, Channel 5), and healthcare research partners. Approximately 60 staff support the operation alongside a volunteer Board of Trustees. Marketing is carried out through the ddrc.org website, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), an email newsletter, and partnerships with BSAC, PADI, RNLI, and the UK Coastguard.

Name

DDRC Healthcare

Legal name

DDRC Healthcare

Website

https://ddrc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DDRC Healthcare is a Plymouth-based UK charity (founded 1980) providing 24/7 hyperbaric oxygen therapy, diving medical emergency services, accredited training (STCW, HSE, IMCA, DMAC), and occupational medicals to divers, maritime, offshore, defence, and media clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. NHS Emergency Services Funding: Commissioned by NHS solely for emergency services for patients with specific conditions (DCI and arterial gas embolism). Subject to ongoing review.
2. DDRC Professional Services - Training: Medical training courses for divers, offshore workers, seafarers, and healthcare professionals. Trading subsidiary with profits supporting the charity.
3. DDRC Medical Services - Medical Examinations: Occupational and recreational medical examinations. Trading subsidiary with profits supporting the charity.
4. Elective HBO Treatments: Elective (non-emergency) hyperbaric oxygen treatments funded by the charity due to NHS funding reductions for certain conditions.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations and fundraising activities. Received £6,500 grant from The Hospital Saturday Fund in 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

DDRC Healthcare is a UK-registered charity that provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) using multi-place and mono-place chambers, a 24/7 diving and hyperbaric medical emergency service, occupational and recreational diving medical examinations, accredited professional training courses (STCW, HSE, IMCA, DMAC), and clinical research. Two trading subsidiaries — DDRC Professional Services Ltd (training) and DDRC Medical Services Ltd (medicals) — generate profits that support the charity's mission.

Product overview

DDRC Healthcare operates as a not-for-profit healthcare organization offering a portfolio of interconnected medical services centred on hyperbaric oxygen therapy, diving medicine, and medical training. The core offering is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), delivered in multiplace and monoplace hyperbaric chambers, which is paired with a 24/7 Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Emergency Service for immediate decompression illness and gas embolism treatment. Supporting services include Recreational and Occupational Medicals (ENG1, HSE, OEUK), Training Courses (STCW, HSE, IMCA, DMAC-certified programmes), Research Services (biomedical, clinical, and diving research), Commercial Diving Emergency Medical Advice, DCI Treatment, and Talks & Tours educational programmes. DDRC Professional Services Ltd and DDRC Medical Services Ltd serve as trading subsidiaries delivering training and medical examination services respectively.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Quantifiable outcome

• On average, only around a third of divers assessed actually require treatment in hyperbaric chambers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• British Diving Safety Group (BDSG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration on diver safety education initiatives. Works together on promoting improved diver safety through educational events, training, and awareness raising.
• UK CoastguardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on diving safety education. Coastguard shares 'Diving Preparations' materials. Emergency coordination for diving incidents.
• RNLIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint educational events including Dive Accident Responder Course (DARC) with lectures from RNLI/HM Coastguard SAR. Collaboration on diver safety education.
• BSACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor diving training body partner. DDRC physicians contribute articles to BSAC Scuba Magazine on fitness to dive issues. Dive club resources and education collaboration.
• PADIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor diving training body partner for diver safety education and awareness.
• Cancer Research UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of clinical trials including HOTII (radiation tissue damage), HOPON (osteoradionecrosis prevention), and DAHANCA21. Provides funding and research support for hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinical research.
• Royal Marsden HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partner for radiation tissue damage clinical trials. Leading cancer hospital involved in HBO research.
• Liverpool Cancer Trials UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for cancer clinical trials related to hyperbaric oxygen therapy research.
• University of PlymouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research through PhD studentships. Vestibular DCS Resources project collaboration. Academic partnership for research development.
• University of ExetercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for biomedical and clinical research collaborations.
• Hearts TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partnership for patient accommodation support. Hearts Together helps provide accommodation for patients travelling from far away for treatment.
• University of Plymouth (Vestibular DCS Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research project developing inner ear/vestibular resources for divers who have had inner ear decompression sickness (IEDCS) and medical professionals involved in their care.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Spire Healthcare: UK private hospital group operating 38+ hospitals offering a broad range of specialty services including some hyperbaric-related treatments; comparable as a UK private healthcare provider serving self-pay and insured patients, though not a hyperbaric specialist.
• Nuffield Health: UK not-for-profit healthcare organisation running hospitals, fitness clubs, and wellbeing services; comparable as a UK charitable health provider with mixed clinical, diagnostic, and training offerings across a broad portfolio.
• BUPA: UK health insurance and provider with clinics and hospitals; comparable as a UK health services organisation combining insurance, clinical delivery, and wellness offerings, though broader than DDRC's hyperbaric and diving medicine focus.
• HCA Healthcare UK: Operates leading UK private hospitals including The Harley Street Clinic and The Princess Grace Hospital; comparable as a UK private hospital provider offering specialty medical services, though broader portfolio than DDRC.
• Circle Health Group: UK private hospital operator with 50+ facilities; comparable as a UK private healthcare provider delivering clinical services, diagnostics, and surgical specialties across a wide footprint.
• Cleveland Clinic London: UK outpost of Cleveland Clinic offering specialty hospital services; comparable as a specialty hospital operator in the UK market serving complex case mix, though not focused on diving or hyperbaric medicine.

Direct peers

• International SOS: Global medical assistance and travel risk services company including maritime and offshore medical cover; comparable to DDRC's commercial diving emergency medical advice service and expedition/super-yacht training offerings for enterprise clients.
• Divers Alert Network (DAN): Global diving medicine organisation providing 24/7 diving emergency hotlines, research, and training, directly comparable to DDRC's diving medical emergency service, research output, and educational mission across recreational and professional divers.
• MedAire: Provider of medical advice, training, and equipment for aviation and maritime crews; directly comparable to DDRC's training courses for seafarers, commercial divers, and offshore medics serving the same regulatory and customer profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UKHYPERBARICS
• Facebookfacebook.com/DDRCPlymouth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diving-diseases-research-centre-ddrc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/ddrchealthcare
• Xx.com/DDRCPlymouth

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DDRC Healthcare