Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal
HospitalMontreal, QC
24/7 emergency.
MTL
Covered
2 facilities
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Montreal
Quebec. Hopital du Sacre-Coeur operates the RAMQ-covered HBOT programme, with one private clinic downtown for off-label indications.
Quick Answer
In short, HBOT in Montreal: Montreal has two hyperbaric oxygen therapy facilities: Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal provides the RAMQ-covered hospital programme for recognised indications, and Hyperbaric Montreal is a private downtown clinic for self-pay HBOT. Sacre-Coeur is a major Quebec HBOT centre and treats divers, carbon-monoxide patients, and radiation-injury cases from across the province. Private sessions downtown typically cost $175 to $300.
Key facts at a glance
| City | Montreal, Quebec |
|---|---|
| Facilities | 2 (1 hospital, 1 private) |
| Provincial plan | RAMQ |
| Coverage | Covers 14 conditions at hospital |
| Typical wait | 4 to 10 weeks |
| Emergency | 24/7 at Sacre-Coeur |
| Private cost | $175 to $300 per session |
| Last updated |
Facilities
2
1 hospital · 1 private
Provincial Plan
RAMQ
Covers 14 conditions at hospital
Typical Wait
4 to 10 weeks
For elective indications
Emergency
24/7 at Sacre-Coeur
CO, air embolism, DCS
HBOT Facilities in Montreal
RAMQ covers HBOT at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal for all recognised conditions. Physician referral required. Private HBOT downtown is not RAMQ-covered and is self-pay.
Independent directory, no paid placements
learn more
Hospital Programmes, Provincial Coverage Available
Private Clinics
Coverage varies by clinic and indication. Some may bill the provincial plan for approved indications; others operate on a self-pay basis. Confirm directly with each clinic before booking.
Hyperbaric Montreal
PrivateMontreal, QC
How Much Does HBOT Cost in Montreal?
RAMQ covers HBOT at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur for all 14 recognised conditions at no out-of-pocket cost with a physician referral. Conditions outside the 14 recognised indications are not RAMQ-funded; the private downtown clinic may offer them on a self-pay basis, but availability varies by clinic and is not guaranteed, so patients can enquire directly about faster scheduling.
For an RAMQ-covered indication
$0 with physician referral
Fully covered at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal with physician referral. Quebec is one of seven Canadian provinces with an established hospital HBOT programme.
Private-pay option
$175 to $300 per session
Some facilities offer private-pay HBOT, typically for conditions outside the recognised indications list or for patients preferring faster scheduling. Typical per-session rate at the Montreal private clinic. Package pricing may apply for longer courses. Confirm pricing with the clinic directly.
Note: A 40-session private course typically totals $7,000 to $12,000. Quebec private insurance plans rarely cover HBOT; confirm with your insurer.
For Patients
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy cost in Canada: all provinces and cities
Full per-province table, package discounts, what affects price, extended health insurance, and source-traced canonical numbers.
See cost reference
How to Get a Referral for HBOT in Montreal
For RAMQ-covered treatment, obtain a referral from your family physician or specialist to the Hopital du Sacre-Coeur Hyperbaric Medicine Unit. Private clinics accept self-referrals with a medical assessment.
- 1 Confirm your condition is one of the 14 recognised Quebec HBOT indications.
- 2 Ask your family doctor, oncologist, or specialist for a referral to the Hopital du Sacre-Coeur hyperbaric unit.
- 3 The unit triages referrals by clinical urgency. Emergency indications are treated immediately.
- 4 For elective indications, expect an initial assessment before treatment begins. Wait times typically range from 4 to 10 weeks.
- 5 For faster access or off-label indications, consider the private clinic from the list above. Contact details are on the facility card.
Emergency HBOT Access in Montreal
Time-critical hyperbaric indications in Montreal, including carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, and gas embolism, are treated as emergencies at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal.
Call 911 for any suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, diving accident, or gas embolism. Urgences-sante will transport to Hopital du Sacre-Coeur, which operates a Quebec 24/7 hyperbaric medicine service. For inter-facility transfers across Quebec, physicians coordinate through regional emergency medical coordination. See the facility card above for unit contact information.
Getting There & Accessibility
Transit, parking, and drop-off details for each facility.
Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal
5400 Boul Gouin Ouest, Ahuntsic-Cartierville. STM buses 164 and 171 serve the hospital. Cartierville train station nearby. Paid patient parking on site.
Hyperbaric Montreal (downtown)
1455 Peel Street, Suite 111, downtown. Peel Metro station (Green Line) directly accessible. Limited street parking; underground garages nearby.
Conditions Commonly Treated
Sacre-Coeur treats all 14 recognised Quebec HBOT conditions including carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, delayed radiation injury from CHU cancer centres, necrotizing soft tissue infections, and chronic osteomyelitis. Conditions outside the recognised RAMQ indications are not RAMQ-funded; the downtown private clinic may offer them on a self-pay basis, but availability varies by clinic and is not guaranteed, so patients can enquire directly.
Health Canada-recognised conditions covered in Montreal
Air or Gas Embolism, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Gas Gangrene, Crush Injury, Compartment Syndrome & Acute Traumatic Ischaemia, Decompression Sickness, Enhancement of Healing in Selected Problem Wounds, Exceptional Blood Loss (Anaemia), Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections, Chronic Osteomyelitis, Soft Tissue Radiation Necrosis, Radiation Damage Affecting Bone, Compromised Skin Grafts & Flaps, Thermal Burns, Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.
Local Research Connection
Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal is a Universite de Montreal teaching hospital and operates one of Quebec's hospital hyperbaric programmes.
Local Context
Hopital du Sacre-Coeur is a major Quebec hyperbaric medicine centre and a referral hospital for diving emergencies in southern Quebec. Its caseload includes commercial divers from the Saint Lawrence, carbon-monoxide cases from Quebec's harsh winters, and radiation-injury cases from the network of Quebec cancer centres.
Recent research relevant to Montreal referrals
Latest HBOT evidence in the conditions most commonly treated in Montreal
Curated weekly from our database of 14,509+ peer-reviewed studies, weighted toward Canadian-affiliated research and the condition referral patterns served in Montreal.
2019 ·Can J Neurol Sci ·Canadian-affiliated ·Tier 1 evidence
Hyperbaric oxygen for radiation necrosis of the brain
Read summary →
2016 ·Oral Dis ·Canadian-affiliated ·Tier 1 evidence
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and osteonecrosis
Read summary →
2026 ·Urologia ·Canadian-affiliated
Radiotherapy effects on the lower urinary tract: A review of long-term complications and their management.
Read summary →
2025 ·Practical neurology ·Canadian-affiliated
Post-radiation optic neuropathy.
Read summary →
2024 ·JPRAS open ·Canadian-affiliated
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy outcomes in post-irradiated patient undergoing microvascular breast reconstruction: A preliminary retrospective comparative study.
Read summary →
Patient logistics · Montreal
Approximate drive times to HBOT facilities from Montreal
Off-peak driving estimates. Treatment courses typically run 4 to 12 weeks of near-daily attendance, so a realistic round-trip estimate matters when planning.
Downtown → Hopital du Sacre-Coeur
25min
14 km · Autoroute 15 north
Plateau → Hopital du Sacre-Coeur
20min
12 km · Boulevard Saint-Laurent + Cremazie
West Island → Hopital du Sacre-Coeur
30min
22 km · Autoroute 40 east
Estimates only. Confirm via your preferred routing service before travel.
Local referral pathways · Montreal
Where Montreal clinicians refer patients for HBOT
Most HBOT referrals start with a specialist who first identifies the underlying condition. The institutions below are local entry points patients in Montreal commonly pass through before reaching a hyperbaric programme.
Audiology & ENT
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (14-day HBOT window)
1000 rue Saint-Denis, Pavillon C, 9th Floor, Montreal, QC H2X 0C1 · 514-890-8236
Universite de Montreal's academic-hospital audiology service for adults 14 and over, with subspecialty programmes in tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing loss tied to complex systemic disease. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss cases that fail initial corticosteroid therapy are candidates for urgent referral to the Hyperbaric Medicine Unit at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal for RAMQ-funded HBOT within the 14-day window.
Verified 2026-05-30
McGill University Health Centre ENT and Audiology at the Glen Site
1001 boul. Decarie, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1 · 514-843-2099
McGill's academic ENT and audiology programme at the Glen site, with an otology-neurotology subspecialty team managing complex hearing loss and labyrinthine disorders. Anglophone Montreal patients with SSNHL who do not respond to corticosteroids are referred to the RAMQ-funded HBOT chamber at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur for adjunct hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Verified 2026-05-30
Oncology & Cancer Centres
Delayed radiation injury referrals
CHUM Centre integre de cancerologie
1051 rue Sanguinet, Montreal, QC H2X 0C1 · 514-890-8254
Universite de Montreal's supra-regional cancer centre with 19 interdisciplinary tumour-site teams and a dedicated radiation oncology programme. Patients who develop delayed radiation injury, including soft-tissue radionecrosis or osteoradionecrosis after head-and-neck, pelvic, or thoracic radiotherapy, can be referred to the Hopital du Sacre-Coeur hyperbaric unit for RAMQ-funded HBOT.
Verified 2026-05-30
Cedars Cancer Centre at the McGill University Health Centre Glen Site
1001 boul. Decarie, Level DS1, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1 · 514-934-4400
McGill's comprehensive cancer centre with seven linear accelerators and a CyberKnife M6 unit, one of Quebec's highest-volume radiation oncology programmes. Late radiation injury sequelae following treatment here can qualify patients for RAMQ-funded HBOT at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal across the CIUSSS network.
Verified 2026-05-30
Segal Cancer Centre at the Jewish General Hospital
3755 chemin de la Cote-Sainte-Catherine, Pavillon E, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2 · 514-340-8248
Major anglophone university cancer centre in the CIUSSS Centre-Ouest network, offering comprehensive medical and radiation oncology. Patients with delayed radiation injury following treatment at the Segal Centre are referred to the RAMQ-funded HBOT programme at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal.
Verified 2026-05-30
Wound Care Programs
Diabetic foot ulcers & non-healing wounds
MUHC Dermatology Leg Ulcer Clinic at Montreal General Hospital
1650 Cedar Avenue, Room L8 210, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4 · 514-934-8008
McGill's dedicated Leg Ulcer Clinic treats severe chronic ulcers requiring complex dressings, serving Greater Montreal. Cases of non-healing wounds of vascular, diabetic, or post-radiation origin that fail standard care are escalated to the RAMQ-funded Hyperbaric Medicine Unit at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal for HBOT.
Verified 2026-05-30
MUHC Dermatology Wound Care at the Glen Site
1001 boul. Decarie, Room D02.3312, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1 · 514-934-8267
McGill's dermatology wound-care programme at the Glen site, co-located with the Cedars Cancer Centre and managing chronic wounds including radiation-related skin breakdown. Refractory wounds that fail conservative management are referred to the Hopital du Sacre-Coeur hyperbaric unit, which accepts RAMQ-funded referrals from across Montreal.
Verified 2026-05-30
Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal Wound and Vascular Services
5400 boul. Gouin Ouest, Montreal, QC H4J 1C5 · 514-338-2222
Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal is the host of the city's RAMQ-funded hyperbaric chamber, and its affiliated vascular and surgical teams manage chronic wound cases on-site. CLSC community wound nurses across the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Ile-de-Montreal network coordinate with the hospital's clinical teams for escalation to HBOT when wounds fail to progress.
Verified 2026-05-30
Diving Medicine Examiners
Fitness-to-dive & decompression follow-up
ExcelleMD Private Clinic Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine
9001 boul. de l'Acadie, Suite 101, Montreal, QC H4N 3H5 · 450-735-8111
Montreal's verifiable private diving medical examiner clinic, offering dive fitness assessments, hyperbaric medicine consultations, and submarine medicine services seven days a week. Serves commercial St. Lawrence shipping-channel divers and recreational divers; decompression illness cases route to the RAMQ-funded hyperbaric chamber at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal.
Verified 2026-05-30
Independent directory. No paid placements. Listings are for navigation only; confirm current details with each institution directly.
Nearest Alternatives to Montreal
Hotel-Dieu de Levis
Levis, QC · About 2.5 hours east by car
Quebec's other RAMQ-covered hospital HBOT programme, serving the Quebec City region.
The Ottawa Hospital
Ottawa, ON · About 2 hours west by car
Nearest Ontario hospital programme. OHIP-covered; accessible for western Quebec residents.
Toronto General / UHN
Toronto, ON · About 5.5 hours west
Among Canada's busiest hospital HBOT programmes. Used for complex specialist consultations.
Frequently Asked Questions, HBOT in Montreal
Does RAMQ cover hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Montreal?
Yes. RAMQ covers HBOT at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal for all 14 recognised conditions including diabetic foot ulcers, delayed radiation injury, carbon monoxide poisoning, and decompression sickness. A physician referral is required. The downtown private clinic is not RAMQ-covered.
How much does HBOT cost in Montreal?
HBOT is free at Hopital du Sacre-Coeur if you have a RAMQ-covered indication and a physician referral. At the downtown private clinic, sessions typically cost $175 to $300 depending on chamber type and clinical complexity. A typical 40-session private course runs $7,000 to $12,000.
How do I get a referral for HBOT in Montreal?
Ask your family physician, oncologist, or specialist for a referral to the Hopital du Sacre-Coeur hyperbaric medicine unit. Urgent cases such as carbon monoxide poisoning or decompression sickness proceed as emergencies through the emergency department without requiring prior referral.
How long is the wait for HBOT at Sacre-Coeur?
Emergency indications are treated immediately. For elective indications, wait times typically range from 4 to 10 weeks depending on clinical urgency. The downtown private clinic can often begin treatment faster; confirm availability directly with the clinic.
Where do Quebec divers go for decompression sickness?
Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal is Quebec's major emergency hyperbaric facility for decompression sickness in the Montreal region. Divers in eastern Quebec may also be routed to Hotel-Dieu de Levis. Always call 911 first; Urgences-sante coordinates routing.
Is HBOT available in French at Sacre-Coeur?
Yes. Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal is a French-language hospital; all hyperbaric care is delivered in French. Bilingual staff are available for English-speaking patients.
How long does an HBOT session last?
A standard session at Sacre-Coeur runs 90 to 120 minutes including compression to 2.0 to 2.4 ATA, treatment breathing 100% oxygen, and decompression. Most clinical protocols call for 20 to 40 daily sessions, 5 days per week; some radiation indications may require up to 60 sessions.
Is HBOT covered for chronic conditions like TBI in Quebec?
Chronic post-concussion syndrome, long-standing TBI, and late-stage stroke recovery are not on the RAMQ-covered list. Sacre-Coeur treats only approved indications. Conditions outside the RAMQ-covered list are not publicly funded; some facilities may offer them on a self-pay basis, but availability varies by clinic and is not guaranteed, so patients can enquire directly; research evidence for HBOT on chronic TBI is mixed.
What is the difference between mild hyperbaric chambers and clinical-grade HBOT in Montreal?
Clinical-grade hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivers 100 per cent oxygen at 2.0 to 2.8 ATA inside a Health Canada-licensed chamber. "Mild" or "soft" hyperbaric chambers (sometimes called "oxygen bars" or "recreational chambers") operate at 1.3 ATA or less, sometimes with ambient air rather than concentrated oxygen, and are not Health Canada-licensed for the 14 recognised clinical indications. The clinical evidence base for HBOT references pressures of 2.0 ATA and above; lower-pressure protocols do not produce the same dissolved-oxygen physiology. Provincial health plans cover treatment only at hospital programmes operating clinical-grade chambers; private clinics in Montreal should disclose their chamber type and operating pressure on request.
How long are hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions in Montreal?
A standard HBOT session at clinics and hospital programmes serving Montreal lasts 90 to 120 minutes door-to-door: roughly 10 to 15 minutes for compression to treatment depth (typically 2.0 to 2.8 ATA), 60 to 90 minutes at treatment pressure, and 10 to 15 minutes for decompression. Patients change into chamber-safe cotton clothing, remove all electronics and oils or lotions, and either lie down in a monoplace chamber or sit in a multiplace chamber. Most chronic-condition courses run 20 to 40 sessions delivered daily or near-daily over 4 to 8 weeks; emergency indications use shorter, time-critical protocols.
What to expect at your first HBOT appointment in Montreal
An HBOT session takes 90 to 120 minutes door-to-door at 2.0 to 2.4 ATA, with a standard treatment course of 20 to 60 daily weekday sessions. For the full session walkthrough, preparation checklist (what to wear, what to avoid before treatment), common side effects, chamber-type differences, and contraindications, see our What to expect from HBOT guide.
Travelling to Montreal for HBOT
A standard HBOT course runs 20 to 40 sessions over 4 to 12 weeks. For provincial medical travel grants (including the Northern Health Travel Grant, MTAP, and territorial programmes), Veterans Affairs Canada coverage, interprovincial reciprocal billing rules, and patient accommodation guidance specific to Quebec, see our Canadian medical travel guide for HBOT patients.
HBOT in other Quebec cities
About this page
This page is maintained by the Canada Hyperbarics Research Team, an independent resource for HBOT information in Canada. We accept no paid placements or sponsorship. Content is drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team before publication. See our full editorial policy for sourcing standards (Health Canada MDALL, CUHMA, UHMS 15th Edition, PubMed) and the AI-assist disclosure.