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Healing Hub: Wick chamber has been enhancing quality of life for over 40 years





Chrissie Gunn receiving a Highland Third Sector Interface volunteering award from Willie Watt, Vice-Lieutenant of Caithness, at the Healing Hub in 2022.
Chrissie Gunn receiving a Highland Third Sector Interface volunteering award from Willie Watt, Vice-Lieutenant of Caithness, at the Healing Hub in 2022.

The voluntary-run Healing Hub in Wick is continuing to enhance the quality of life for people with a range of health conditions, from rheumatoid arthritis to asthma.

Two of the current regular users of the barochamber within the centre have long Covid, also known as post-Covid-19 syndrome, and find that regular oxygen therapy sessions improve their energy levels.

“Using it is a commitment, to make it worthwhile. That’s what we aim for,” said Chrissie Gunn, chairperson of the group that operates the facility at the Braehead.

“You come weekly to start with and then you can stretch it out to fortnightly and then stretch it out to three-weekly and then maybe monthly.

“We have a lassie that comes back every two or three months because she says it clears her brain fog. In between she’s fine.

“She’s got fibromyalgia. She used to come every week but now she comes when she needs it.”

The chamber is adjusted to go to different “depths”. There are three levels of pressure, the equivalent of 16 feet, 24 feet and 33 feet.

Depending on the type of health condition, a person’s physical wellbeing can be transformed by regular sessions of breathing oxygen under pressure. In the words of Jan Farrington, the group’s secretary and treasurer, it’s all about “helping your body to heal itself”.

Users generally pay a £15 donation for a session, lasting for an hour or more. They can spend the time reading, knitting, doing paperwork or watching TV on their phone while sitting in the chamber breathing in oxygen through a mask.

The therapy can be effective against anything that is caused by inflammation, Chrissie pointed out. “It can help irritable bowel, it helps leg ulcers, anything that’s to do with circulation,” she said.

“We had one man that came because he was at risk of losing his foot. He had six weeks before he saw the vascular surgeon to decide if he was going to lose his foot, so he came in three times a week.

“He’s still got his foot and his surgeon is delighted with him.

“We’ve got two people just now with long Covid using it. The main things it seems to help with long Covid are their breathlessness and tiredness, and they seem to get their strength back then.

“We’ve even had an enquiry from a woman that lives in Austria asking if she can use it when she comes over on holiday to family in Thurso. And we have a man from Shetland that wants to come and use the chamber, go home for a month and then come back. He’s got long Covid.”

Chrissie’s involvement in oxygen therapy began more than 40 years ago, in 1983, when a committee was formed to raise £10,000 to buy a chamber to support people in the far north with MS.

The chamber became part of a local charity called Action Research into Multiple Sclerosis (ARMS). The first base was in Grant Street, Wick, and it moved in 1996 to the former Old Men’s Rest overlooking the harbour.

The future King officially reopening the Healing Hub in July 2022, accompanied by Jan Farrington. Picture: Robert MacDonald / Northern Studios
The future King officially reopening the Healing Hub in July 2022, accompanied by Jan Farrington. Picture: Robert MacDonald / Northern Studios

In July 2022, Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, as he was then, officially reopened the Healing Hub after a £76,000 refurbishment. It would be one of his last public engagements before becoming King in September that year.

Earlier in 2022, Chrissie had been presented with a volunteering award from the Highland Third Sector Interface to mark her many years of commitment.

The chamber can bring benefits to people with conditions ranging from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to sports injuries, as well as MS.

“We’ve got more people without MS coming than we have with MS,” Chrissie pointed out. “We’ve still got new people with MS but the majority have different conditions – we’ve got long Covid, we’ve got asthma, we’ve got arthritis. It’ll help rheumatoid arthritis but not osteoarthritis.”

The Healing Hub was acquired by the group after it negotiated an asset transfer with Highland Council. It has received financial support from a number of sources – and has benefited from the long-term generosity of one local company in particular.

For more than four decades, haulage firm D Steven & Son has transported used oxygen cylinders from the chamber down to Aberdeen and brought full cylinders up – at no cost.

“They’ve never once charged us,” Chrissie said. “It’s amazing. That’s over 40 years now they’ve been doing it.”

The group continues to carry out local fundraising. Chrissie said: “Jan runs a monthly quiz in the Castletown Hotel and our December one raised £475.”

There are 23 regular users at the moment, and five regular operators of the chamber. More volunteers would be welcome.

Anyone wishing to find out more about oxygen therapy, or about hiring the building for meetings, can text or call treasurer/secretary Jan Farrington on 07775 683300 or call Chrissie Gunn on 07892 373790. The centre’s phone number is 01955 604586.

Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, as he was then, on his visit to the Healing Hub in Wick in July 2022. Picture: Robert MacDonald / Northern Studios
Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, as he was then, on his visit to the Healing Hub in Wick in July 2022. Picture: Robert MacDonald / Northern Studios

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