More islanders to benefit from oxygen therapy

Friday 14 June 2019

A charity that helps ease the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis, cancer and pain sufferers by giving them ‘extra’ oxygen has tripled the number of islanders it can support after moving premises.

But the Oxygen Therapy Centre (OTC) says it still needs the public's financial backing to continue its work.

Having moved to a larger facility on Trinity Hill, OTC has been able to install a new double oxygen chamber, which will increase the number of people able to use the chamber every session, from four to 12.

Pictured: The new chamber can accommodate more people.

It comes as requests for oxygen therapy have drastically increased over the past few years, as its benefits become more widely understood.

Patients being treated at the centre includes those who suffer with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Fibromyalgia, other neurological conditions and sports injuries, as well as multiple types of cancer.

The charity helps to treat 40 different conditions. However, many more people could benefit from the treatment, as statistics show that 14% of Jersey's population are defined as disabled - some of whom could be helped by oxygen therapy. 

Video: Mark, who has MS, previously told Express about the benefits of the therapy.

Being the only low-pressure oxygen chamber in the island, it is in high demand. From 2016 to 2018, the number of completed sessions rose from 365 to 777.

So far this year, the OTC has already completed 370 therapies and, due to the increased capacity of the chamber, should see the final figure reach an all-time high.

The new premises now completely belong to the charity instead of being leased, allowing them to develop the site to continue providing services to Islanders. The move has also meant that there is an improved parking facility and additional space for private complimentary therapies. 

Pictured: The new site on Trinity Hill.

The charity still has a target of £200,000 to raise to complete refurbishments and to cover going running costs. A recent generous donation of £25,000 was also gratefully received by the charity. However, it still relies on the support of local people and businesses.

Development and Operations Manager Tori Ducker said the charity was "thrilled to have successfully completed the move to our new premises", and thanked everyone involved in the project.

"We are already benefitting from having more space and a larger oxygen chamber, which is fantastic considering the amazing results that are achieved for our clients. We still have a lot of money to raise and we would be so grateful if people would come forward to help us."