When you receive a Medico Cork call

Diving History and Examination Record

Diving Hx and Exam record

  1. Print and fill out “Diving history and examination” in all patients
  2. Gather info from diver – incl depth of dive, bottom time, ascent time, no. of dives
    Symptoms and time of onset
  3. Contact consultant on call. All diving related calls should be dealt with by consultant on call.

For diving related advice contact nos. below. They will guide you as to which recompression table is needed to deal with each particular case.

  1. For advice contact Duty Diving Medical Officer in Institute of Naval Medicine UK on 0044 7831 151523 or 0044 2392 768020 if first number not answered.
  2. If still cannot contact INM, Divers Alert Network (DAN), US can be contacted:
    Divers Alert Network+1-919-684-4326 (Collect) or +1-919-684-8111.
  3. Both navies have nearly identical tables. RN tables are in metres; USN tables in feet.
  4. RN Table 61= USN Table 5; RN Table 62 = USN Table 6; RN Table 63 =USN Table 6A
  5. The consultant involved should telephone the Navy diving officer on 087 2355263 to relay clinical information and appropriate table to be used for recompression.
  6. Contact Dr. John Murphy, Medical Officer Naval Service at 086 3687959
  7. If, in the opinion of Medico, the patient may require to go to the Hyperbaric Chamber, Medico Cork will inform Ambulance Control Cork by dialling zero on an internal phone, then 112 or 999 and asking for the ambulance service. Ambulance Control will implement the ambulance SOP that includes informing the Naval Base that the Hyperbaric Chamber is required. The more notice that can be given to activate the chamber the better but the minimum notice is one hour.
  8. Contact Nora McCarthy at 087-9158454 if having problems.

The decision to transfer to Cork University Hospital will depend on whether the patient is fit for transfer. For example those patients with low conscious levels or breathing difficulties may first need to be transferred to the nearest emergency department. This decision will be made by Medico Cork. The consultant on call may then liaise with the Emergency medicine doctors regarding the patients condition for possible transfer.

Coast guard numbers

Valentia – 066-9476-109
Dublin - 01-6620-922
Malin Head – 074-9370-103

Craigavon Area Hospital - emergency call centre number +44 28 3861 2307.

Dr Neville Rutherford-Jones +44 77 079 7950 1207

  1. In the event that a patient is seen initially in an Emergency Department of another hospital, that hospital will contact Medico Cork through the Coast Guard. Medico may direct the Coast Guard directly to the Naval Base, landing in the football field. Alternatively the consultant may want the patient to be examined at Cork University Hospital. In this case Cork Airport is the preferred landing site.
  2. The Coast Guard will inform Ambulance Control Cork of this landing site and E.T.A. A HSE ambulance will meet the helicopter and transport the patient.

The Naval Base recompression chamber is not equipped to treat patients who have severe respiratory problems requiring tracheal intubation. These patients, if they require recompression treatment, will need to be transferred to a suitable chamber in the UK.

How this transfer is to be affected will be decided by the Irish Coast Guard with medical advice from Medico Cork.

Procedure to use hyperbaric Chanber at Haulbowline (May 2008)

  1. On receiving a call for this type of patient, the Coast Guard will contact Medico Cork (who are the co-ordinators for the country) and inform them of a possible incident. On picking up a patient the Coast Guard will again contact Medico and inform them of the patient’s condition.
  2. If, in the opinion of Medico, the patient may require to go to the Hyperbaric Chamber, Medico Cork will inform Ambulance Control Cork by dialling zero on an internal phone, then 112 or 999 and asking for the ambulance service.
  3. Ambulance Control will implement the ambulance SOP that includes informing the Naval Base that the Hyperbaric Chamber is required. The more notice that can be given to activate the chamber the better but the minimum notice is one hour.
  4. The Coast Guard will contact Ambulance Control giving a landing site and an E.T.A. At present the preferred site is Cork Airport.
  5. An ambulance will meet the helicopter and transport the patient to the Emergency Department at Cork University Hospital.
  6. If assessment confirms that the patient needs recompression, an ambulance will transfer the patient with a nurse or doctor to the Naval Base.
  7. The consultant involved should telephone the Navy diving officer on 087 2355263 to relay clinical information and appropriate table to be used for recompression.