Vancouver General Hospital
HospitalVancouver, BC
Only hospital HBOT in BC. Multiplace. 24/7.
VAN
Hospital Only
1 facility
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Vancouver
British Columbia. Vancouver General Hospital operates BC's only hospital hyperbaric programme, MSP-covered for recognised conditions. Details below.
Quick Answer
In short, HBOT in Vancouver: Vancouver has one hyperbaric oxygen therapy facility: Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) operates the only hospital-based HBOT programme in British Columbia, serving the entire province for recognised indications. MSP covers HBOT at VGH for Health Canada-recognised conditions with a physician referral. Private HBOT is available in the Greater Vancouver area but not within Vancouver city limits. Sessions at VGH are fully covered; travel assistance is available for out-of-region patients.
Key facts at a glance
| City | Vancouver, British Columbia |
|---|---|
| Facilities | 1 (1 hospital, 0 private) |
| Provincial plan | MSP |
| Coverage | Covers 14 conditions at hospital |
| Typical wait | 4 to 12 weeks |
| Emergency | 24/7 at VGH |
| Private cost | $150 to $400 per session |
| Last updated |
Facilities
1
1 hospital · 0 private
Provincial Plan
MSP
Covers 14 conditions at hospital
Typical Wait
4 to 12 weeks
For elective indications
Emergency
24/7 at VGH
CO, air embolism, DCS
HBOT Facilities in Vancouver
MSP covers HBOT at Vancouver General Hospital for all Health Canada-recognised conditions. Physician referral required. Private HBOT is not MSP-covered and is available in neighbouring Burnaby and Richmond on a self-pay basis.
Independent directory, no paid placements
learn more
Hospital Programmes, Provincial Coverage Available
How Much Does HBOT Cost in Vancouver?
HBOT at Vancouver General Hospital is fully MSP-covered for recognised indications with a physician referral. There is no out-of-pocket cost for the treatment itself; parking and transportation are the patient's responsibility. Private HBOT is available in nearby Burnaby and Richmond for off-label indications or faster access.
For an MSP-covered indication
$0 with physician referral
Fully covered with physician referral and a Health Canada-recognised indication. Travel assistance programme available for out-of-region patients through BC Health.
Private-pay option
$150 to $400 per session
Some facilities offer private-pay HBOT, typically for conditions outside the recognised indications list or for patients preferring faster scheduling. Per-session rates at private clinics in Greater Vancouver. Full treatment courses typically run 30 to 40 sessions. Confirm pricing with the clinic directly.
Note: A 40-session course for a condition not covered by the provincial plan typically totals $6,000 to $16,000. Extended health plans in BC rarely cover HBOT; confirm with your plan administrator before starting.
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 Vancouver
For MSP-covered treatment, obtain a referral from your family physician or specialist to the VGH Hyperbaric Medicine Unit. Private clinics in Greater Vancouver accept self-referrals with a medical assessment.
- 1 Confirm your condition is one of the 14 Health Canada-recognised indications (diabetic foot ulcer, delayed radiation injury, carbon monoxide poisoning, osteoradionecrosis, necrotizing soft tissue infections, and similar).
- 2 Ask your family doctor or specialist for a referral to any Vancouver-area facility that bills MSP for HBOT. Pick a facility from the list above and share its contact details with the referring clinician.
- 3 The VGH unit triages referrals by clinical urgency. Emergency indications such as carbon monoxide poisoning and decompression sickness are treated immediately.
- 4 For elective indications, expect an initial assessment appointment before treatment begins. Wait times range from 4 to 12 weeks depending on clinical urgency.
- 5 If wait times are prohibitive or your indication is off the MSP-covered list, consider a private-pay clinic from the list above. Contact details are on each facility card.
Emergency HBOT Access in Vancouver
Time-critical hyperbaric indications in Vancouver, including carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, gas embolism, and necrotizing soft tissue infections, are treated as emergencies at Vancouver General Hospital.
Call 911 for any suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, diving accident, or gas embolism. BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) transports to Vancouver General Hospital, which operates the province's only 24/7 hyperbaric medicine unit with multiplace chamber capacity. For inter-facility transfers from across BC, physicians coordinate through BC Patient Transfer Network. See the facility card above for hospital contact information.
Getting There & Accessibility
Transit, parking, and drop-off details for each facility.
Vancouver General Hospital
855 West 12th Avenue, central Vancouver. Broadway-City Hall SkyTrain (Canada Line) is a 10-minute walk. TransLink buses 9 and 99 stop directly at the hospital. Paid patient parking on site; nearby Cambie Street parking is often cheaper.
Conditions Commonly Treated
VGH treats all 14 Health Canada-recognised conditions. In the Vancouver patient population, the most common referrals are for diabetic foot ulcers from the Lower Mainland's extensive wound-care network, delayed radiation injury following cancer treatment at BC Cancer, and decompression sickness from the active recreational and occupational diving community on the Pacific coast.
Health Canada-recognised conditions covered in Vancouver
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
Vancouver General Hospital operates British Columbia's hospital hyperbaric programme. The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine maintains teaching affiliations with VGH for physician training.
Local Context
Vancouver General Hospital operates the only hospital-based HBOT programme in British Columbia, making it the provincial referral centre for every MSP-eligible hyperbaric indication. The Blackmore Pavilion houses a multiplace chamber and serves divers injured along the entire BC coast as well as oncology patients from BC Cancer facilities across Metro Vancouver.
Recent research relevant to Vancouver referrals
Latest HBOT evidence in the conditions most commonly treated in Vancouver
Curated weekly from our database of 14,499+ peer-reviewed studies, weighted toward Canadian-affiliated research and the condition referral patterns served in Vancouver.
2003 ·Sports Med ·Canadian-affiliated ·Tier 1 evidence
Asthma and recreational SCUBA diving: a systematic review
Read summary →
2025 ·Diving Hyperb Med ·Canadian-affiliated
Oxygen treatment and retrieval pathways of divers with diving-related conditions in Townsville, Australia: a 15-year retrospective review
Read summary →
2025 ·Diving Hyperb Med ·Canadian-affiliated
Quality of reporting in hyperbaric medicine clinical trials: a cross-sectional study
Read summary →
2025 ·Diving and hyperbaric medicine ·Canadian-affiliated
Diving practices in technical divers' community and behaviour towards self-reported unusual symptoms.
Read summary →
2025 ·Diving Hyperb Med ·Canadian-affiliated
Revised guideline for central nervous system oxygen toxicity exposure limits when using an inspired PO2 of 1.3 atmospheres
Read summary →
Patient logistics · Vancouver
Approximate drive times to HBOT facilities from Vancouver
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 → Vancouver General Hospital
10min
5 km · Cambie Street
Kitsilano → Vancouver General Hospital
12min
4 km · Broadway
East Vancouver → Vancouver General Hospital
18min
7 km · Broadway corridor
Estimates only. Confirm via your preferred routing service before travel.
Nearest Alternatives to Vancouver
BaroMedical Hyperbaric Oxygen Clinic
Burnaby, BC · 18 km east of downtown
Private self-pay clinic in Greater Vancouver. Broader indication acceptance.
International Hyperbaric Health Centers
Richmond, BC · 16 km south of downtown
Private self-pay clinic. Steveston area.
Foothills Medical Centre / Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Calgary, AB · AHS-covered option for patients referred interprovincially
Second-closest Canadian hospital HBOT programme. Used for interprovincial referrals.
Frequently Asked Questions, HBOT in Vancouver
Does MSP cover hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Vancouver?
Yes. MSP covers HBOT at Vancouver General Hospital for the 14 Health Canada-recognised conditions including diabetic foot ulcers, delayed radiation injury, carbon monoxide poisoning, and decompression sickness. A physician referral is required. Private HBOT clinics in Greater Vancouver are not MSP-covered.
How much does HBOT cost in Vancouver?
HBOT is free at Vancouver General Hospital if you have an MSP-covered indication and a physician referral. At private clinics in Greater Vancouver, sessions typically cost $150 to $400 depending on chamber type and clinical complexity. A typical 40-session course at a private clinic runs $6,000 to $16,000.
How do I get a referral for HBOT in Vancouver?
Ask your family physician or specialist for a referral to any Vancouver-area facility that bills MSP for HBOT. 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 Vancouver General?
Emergency indications like carbon monoxide poisoning and air embolism are treated immediately. For elective indications, wait times at VGH typically range from 4 to 12 weeks depending on clinical urgency. Private clinics in Greater Vancouver generally have shorter wait times; confirm current availability directly with each clinic.
Can I get HBOT for chronic conditions like TBI or stroke recovery in Vancouver?
Chronic traumatic brain injury, post-concussion syndrome, and late-stage stroke are not among the 14 MSP-covered indications in BC. VGH treats only the approved list. Private clinics in Greater Vancouver offer HBOT for these conditions on a self-pay basis. The research evidence for HBOT on chronic TBI and stroke is mixed; consult both your treating neurologist and a hyperbaric physician.
How long does an HBOT session last?
A standard session at VGH 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 (cystitis, proctitis) may require up to 60 sessions.
Is HBOT safe?
Yes, when delivered at an accredited clinical facility. HBOT has a strong safety record. Common mild side effects include ear pressure during compression, temporary vision changes that resolve after treatment, and occasional claustrophobia. Serious complications are rare at Canadian facilities, which enforce strict no-flammables protocols.
Where do divers from BC go for decompression sickness?
Vancouver General Hospital is the designated emergency hyperbaric facility for decompression sickness anywhere on the BC coast. The Royal Canadian Navy CFB Esquimalt also operates chambers near Victoria for military diving casualties. Always call 911 first; BC Emergency Health Services will coordinate air or ground transport.
What is the difference between mild hyperbaric chambers and clinical-grade HBOT in Vancouver?
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 Vancouver should disclose their chamber type and operating pressure on request.
How long are hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions in Vancouver?
A standard HBOT session at clinics and hospital programmes serving Vancouver 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 Vancouver
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 Vancouver 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 British Columbia, see our Canadian medical travel guide for HBOT patients.
HBOT in other British Columbia 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.