No HBOT facilities. Patients referred to Alberta (Edmonton) via Medical Travel Program.
Quick Answer
Is HBOT covered in Northwest Territories? The Northwest Territories has no hyperbaric oxygen therapy facilities. Patients requiring HBOT for any of the 14 Health Canada-recognised conditions are referred south, most commonly to Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta (Covenant Health, 24/7 emergency coverage). NWT Health and Social Services coordinates these referrals through the patient's physician; the NWT Medical Travel Program covers approved travel for medically necessary out-of-territory care. Acute hyperbaric emergencies are coordinated by emergency department physicians for urgent air medical transfer through the territorial medical transport system.
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Hospital Programmes
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Private Clinics
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Total Facilities
14
Recognised Conditions
Insurance Program
NWT Health and Social Services
Coverage Type
No HBOT facilities. Patients referred to Alberta (Edmonton) via Medical Travel Program.
Wait Times
Interjurisdictional referral wait times depend on the receiving facility (typically Misericordia Edmonton). Emergencies treated immediately upon arrival.
Physician referral for treatment in Alberta, typically at Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton. The NWT Medical Travel Program covers approved travel.
Speak with your family physician or specialist about whether HBOT is appropriate for your condition (one of the 14 Health Canada-recognised indications).
Your physician initiates a referral, most commonly to Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton (Covenant Health), through NWT Health and Social Services.
For emergency indications, the receiving emergency department coordinates urgent air ambulance transfer through the territorial medical transport system.
For chronic and elective indications, scheduling depends on the receiving programme's capacity. Patients should plan for an extended stay in the Edmonton area for the duration of treatment.
Apply to the NWT Medical Travel Program through your physician for assistance with approved travel and accommodation costs. Treatment at the receiving facility is typically covered through the interjurisdictional billing arrangement.
Nearest Alternative
Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton, AB (~1,500 km by air from Yellowknife).
Hyperbaric emergencies in the Northwest Territories (suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, severe necrotising soft-tissue infection, decompression sickness) require interjurisdictional air transport, as the territory has no hyperbaric chamber.
Emergency Routing
Call 911 first for any acute medical emergency. The receiving emergency department physician at Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife or another NWT facility coordinates urgent air ambulance transfer, most commonly to Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton (Covenant Health, 24/7 multiplace coverage). Stabilisation in NWT and air transport coordination are arranged through NWT Health and Social Services' medical transport system. For diving-related emergencies, the Divers Alert Network (DAN) emergency hotline is 1-919-684-9111 and can advise on the nearest active recompression chamber.
NWT's closest hospital hyperbaric chamber is Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta (approximately 1,500 km from Yellowknife by air, with regular commercial and air ambulance service). Vancouver General Hospital (BC) is an alternative for some patients depending on clinical urgency and air route options. Air ambulance transfer is arranged for time-critical emergencies through NWT Health and Social Services' medical transport coordination.
NWT Health and Social Services is the territorial department responsible for hospital and community health services in the Northwest Territories. Hospital services are delivered through the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority. The territorial system does not operate a hyperbaric chamber and coordinates interjurisdictional referrals for HBOT through the patient's physician to receiving facilities in Alberta (most commonly) or British Columbia.
NWT patients accessing HBOT through interjurisdictional referral are treated for the 14 conditions identified by Health Canada as accepted indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. These include emergency indications (carbon monoxide poisoning, gas embolism, decompression sickness, gas gangrene, necrotising soft-tissue infections, crush injury and acute traumatic ischaemia, severe blood loss anaemia, intracranial abscess, central retinal artery occlusion, sudden sensorineural hearing loss) and chronic/elective indications (problem wounds including diabetic foot ulcers, late effects of radiation, compromised grafts and flaps, refractory osteomyelitis, thermal burns).
Important Note
NWT has no hyperbaric facilities. Patients requiring HBOT must travel south, most commonly to Alberta. Canada Hyperbarics has no commercial relationship with NWT Health and Social Services or with the receiving facilities.
No. NWT has no hyperbaric facilities. Patients requiring HBOT for any of the 14 Health Canada-recognised conditions are referred south, most commonly to Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. The NWT Medical Travel Program covers approved travel.
Out-of-territory referrals for medically necessary HBOT are coordinated through your physician and NWT Health and Social Services. Treatment at the receiving facility is typically covered through interjurisdictional billing; the NWT Medical Travel Program assists with approved travel and accommodation costs.
Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton is approximately 1,500 km from Yellowknife by air. Vancouver General Hospital (BC) is an alternative for some patients depending on clinical urgency and air route options.
NWT patients accessing HBOT through interjurisdictional referral are treated for the 14 Health Canada-recognised conditions, which include carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, gas embolism, gas gangrene, necrotising soft-tissue infections, crush injury, severe anaemia, intracranial abscess, central retinal artery occlusion, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, problem wounds, late effects of radiation, compromised grafts and flaps, refractory osteomyelitis, and thermal burns.
Most chronic indications require a course of 20 to 40 daily sessions, with some radiation indications requiring up to 60 sessions. Each session typically lasts 90 to 120 minutes. NWT patients accessing publicly funded HBOT through interjurisdictional referral should plan for an extended stay in the Edmonton area.
Call 911. The receiving emergency department at Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife or another NWT facility coordinates urgent air ambulance transfer to Misericordia Community Hospital in Edmonton through the territorial medical transport system. Stabilisation in NWT precedes the transfer for time-critical emergencies. For diving emergencies, the Divers Alert Network (DAN) hotline at 1-919-684-9111 can advise on the nearest active recompression chamber.
Your physician initiates the application through NWT Health and Social Services as part of the referral. The programme covers approved travel and accommodation costs for medically necessary out-of-territory care. Specific eligibility, coverage levels, and documentation requirements should be confirmed with NWT Health and Social Services directly.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-23