History of the Centre Written by Syd Tucker using Voice Recognition Software.

The centre was founded in 1984 by Don Hawkins. His wife, Paddy, suffered from MS and in 1982 he read an article in The Sunday Times by John Simkins of ARMS (Action Research into Multiple Sclerosis), a registered charity based in London. ARMS had already established a nation-wide counselling system and funded medical research for MS. High Dosage Oxygen treatment (HDOT) was part of the ARMS research programme. Although medical science has been aware of multiple sclerosis for well over a century the cause remains unknown and a cure has yet to be found. HDOT is used to help manage the symptoms and even slow down progression of the disease. HD0T treatment is administered by breathing pure oxygen through a mask for one hour whilst sitting in a decompression chamber similar to those used by divers.

Don Hawkins contacted John Simkins and was given information for building an HDOT treatment Centre. Advertisements were placed in the local Press calling for a public meeting to discuss the venture and seek support. The months following the meeting were spent raising money to finance the new centre. An anonymous donor promised to double the first £10,000 raised to finance the opening of a centre. Suitable premises were acquired and the centre was opened at Southlands Hospital in West Sussex with name of The South Weald Friends of ARMS (HBO). The hospital authority offered the centre a lease on generous terms in a hospital annex.

The HDOT pressure chamber weighs 3.5-tons, is pressurised by ordinary air and was purchased by Don Hawkins at a cost of £30,000 from the funds raised. The chamber seats up to 5 people and operates at various pressures.

The objects of the centre were to bring together people suffering from multiple sclerosis, their carers and those interested in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Also the provision of advice, including nutrition and diet, counselling, guidance and the administration of High Dosage Oxygen Treatment (HDOT) to those suffering from multiple sclerosis.

The ARMS charity in London continued to prosper and with the help and guidance of Dr Philip James it encouraged the opening of a nation-wide network of HDOT treatment centres. Dr James operates the Hyperbaric Unit at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee University, Scotland. ARMS had meagre financial resources but provided the necessary guidance, information and expertise to set-up and manage a centre.

A United Kingdom network of over 50 HDOT centres gradually developed, each linked to the central ARMS office. The centres operated as independent registered non-profit making charities making donations to ARMS to assist in research and development. Unfortunately ARMS ran into financial difficulties and was forced into liquidation.

In 1994, following the collapse of ARMS, Don Hawkins and his Executive Committee transformed the centre into a private limited company changing its name to the Sussex MS Treatment Centre Ltd. There now exist more than sixty HDOT centres throughout the country, all of which are independent organisations.

John Allen successfully managed the centre for 12 years until he retired in 1994 following the relocation of the centre to its new premises at the present location in Southwick. The present Centre Manager is Mr Alan Taylor.

The centre costs about £80,000 per year but receives no grants from the government or local medical authorities. Everything is financed by voluntary donations and fundraising activities. Alan Taylor and his assistant Tania Hobbs are the only paid members of staff. The Executive Committee and the pressure chamber operators are unpaid volunteers.

The membership has reached 400 and each member pays a £10 annual subscription fee.  The centre is a registered non-profit making charity with special tax exemptions and is not permitted to charge for the service offered. It is however permitted to request that each person needing HDOT make a donation towards the cost of each oxygenation session. This voluntary contribution is £10 to cover some of the costs of the treatment.  No one is denied treatment if they cannot afford to pay. In the USA and Canada and Europe HDOT can cost the equivalent of about £100 to £500 per hour.  

Alan Mullen, whose wife Zena has MS and is the editor of the centre's newsletter, The Belle, designed the new premises. The site management was carried-out by John Roberts JP, now retired, when the pressure chamber was lifted onto the new foundations and a prefabricated building erected around it. The new building, completed in 1994,  has a lounge, an office, the pressure chamber room, three therapy rooms, a kitchen, three toilets including two disabled toilets. The parking facilities are also excellent. 

Since moving to the new premises there have been great efforts in the field of fund-raising and, in addition to other generous donations, the centre received £44,000 from the National Lottery fund to finance the renovation of centre. The renovations included the installation of air-conditioning, redecoration of the premises, provision of a kitchen and general refurbishment of equipment and furniture, a mobile electric hoist and modern wheelchairs.

Some of the members travel considerable distances for the treatment and other therapies available at the centre.

The social activities are well supported and a monthly buffet lunch has become a popular event with talks given by invited speakers.

Following the rapid flow of information on the Internet other severe medical conditions such as cerebral palsy and stroke victims are being given HDOT. Demand for HDOT has therefore grown and evening and Saturday morning sessions have become a regular feature. Parents with children suffering from cerebral palsy regularly visit the centre from the USA, Canada and Europe.

Syd Tucker May 1999

Up-dated August 2003