Hyperbaric & Diving Medicine Consultation

Specialist physician consultation for hyperbaric medicine indications, diving fitness assessments, and post-dive injury evaluation. Includes 24-hour emergency triage for divers experiencing decompression sickness or arterial gas embolism.

The SGH Hyperbaric & Diving Medicine Centre offers specialist consultations with physicians trained in hyperbaric and underwater medicine, covering three main clinical domains: pre-dive fitness assessment, post-dive injury evaluation, and hyperbaric treatment planning for non-diving indications. For recreational and professional divers, the centre provides medical fitness assessments to determine safe diving eligibility — particularly important for individuals with cardiac conditions, pulmonary disease, diabetes, ear or sinus disorders, or a history of previous decompression incidents. These assessments follow guidelines from the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), Diver Alert Network (DAN), and the European Diving Technology Committee (EDTC), and result in a formal medical certificate of fitness to dive. Post-dive consultations address injuries sustained during or after dives, including Type I decompression sickness (pain-only, limb bends, skin manifestations), Type II decompression sickness (neurological, inner ear, or pulmonary involvement), and arterial gas embolism. Specialist evaluation includes a detailed history of the dive profile, symptom onset timeline, and neurological examination, followed by a recommendation for recompression therapy if clinically indicated. The centre's 24-hour emergency diving line (+65 6222 3322) provides immediate specialist triage for divers anywhere in Singapore or the region who experience acute post-dive symptoms. For non-diving patients, initial consultations establish medical suitability for HBOT, review contraindications (including untreated pneumothorax, certain chemotherapy agents, and claustrophobia), and design a personalised treatment schedule based on clinical indication and goals. All consultations are conducted by physicians with postgraduate training in hyperbaric medicine and are supported by the full diagnostic and imaging resources of Singapore General Hospital, including CT, MRI, and specialist subspecialty reviews as needed. Patients referred by a GP or specialist may be eligible for subsidised consultation rates under the SGH Specialist Outpatient Clinic fee schedule.