Urgently review NHS England's Hyperbaric Contract to protect Diver Safety

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

We call on Parliament / the UK Government to urgently review NHS England’s decision to remove contracts for three emergency recompression (hyperbaric) chambers located in the Wirral, Midlands & Hull as of 1 October 2025. This creates a critical gap in diver safety & emergency response capabilities.

Diver safety mustn't be dictated by postcode.

This decision leaves a vast area (from Aberdeen to Gt Yarmouth) without ANY emergency recompression provision.

Decompression sickness ("the bends") is life-threatening. It requires immediate hyperbaric treatment. Without these facilities lives will be lost. Survivors may face permanent, life-altering injuries.

We urge Parliament to debate this decision & safety implications, to ensure equitable, nationwide emergency care for divers is maintained

Why it was rejected

It was about an operational decision of a public body, which petitions cannot cover.

We can only accept petitions about things the Government or Parliament are directly responsible for.

Decisions about closing hyperbaric chambers are a matter for NHS England, rather than a decision about policy or legislation that is made by the Government or Parliament.

Timeline

16 May 2025	Petition opened for signatures
2 Jun 2025	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21

Status Rejected

Rejected 2 Jun 2025

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