Meet the Oxygens team
Clinical Psychologist and Operations Director at Oxygens
Dr Sarah Bishop (BSc, PGCert, DClinPsy) is a Clinical Psychologist with more than 20 years of NHS experience. At Oxygens, she supports education, operational quality, safety and the customer journey surrounding hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
My work at Oxygens
As Operations Director, I help guide customers through the full Oxygens journey, from their first questions and chamber selection through to installation, training and ongoing support. I speak with home users, clinics and wellness businesses to help them understand the available chamber designs, space requirements, pressure options and practical considerations before making a decision.
My aim is to make detailed hyperbaric information easier to understand while being honest about what our non-medical wellness chambers are, what they are not, and when independent medical advice should be sought.
I work alongside our engineers and wider team on operational quality, customer education, training materials, safety information and aftercare. I also contribute to the processes supporting our ISO 9001 quality management system, helping ensure that our design, manufacture, installation, hire and training services are delivered consistently and responsibly.
My background in clinical psychology is particularly valuable when communicating complex information, understanding individual circumstances and helping customers feel confident about the equipment and support they receive.
Dr Sarah's interest in HBOT initially developed through her personal experience as a parent exploring a range of wellbeing approaches for her autistic son. This encouraged her to examine emerging research around hyperbaric environments, psychological wellbeing, brain health and wider recovery support.
Her family's experience is personal and should not be interpreted as evidence of clinical effectiveness or as a treatment recommendation.
Read: Nurturing Neurodiversity, Autism in BirminghamStraight answers from personal and professional experience
There is no single best chamber for everyone. The right choice depends on your available space, preferred seating or lying position, intended use and suitable pressure level. My personal favourite is the soft-shell Lie-Down chamber. It is exceptionally spacious and its size allows versatile lying and supported sitting positions. It can be supplied with either 1.3 ATA or 1.5 ATA valves, allowing the pressure configuration to be selected appropriately.
In our family's personal experience, my son appeared to respond better at 1.3 ATA. We began at 1.3 ATA and later tried 1.5 ATA, wondering whether a higher pressure would be more beneficial. We observed that he seemed more irritable following the 1.5 ATA sessions, so we returned to what felt like his personal “sweet spot” at 1.3 ATA. This is our individual experience and not a clinical recommendation. Dr Jason Sonners also discusses considerations surrounding 1.3 ATA in this educational video.
No. Once you have been shown the correct routine, operating the chamber is very straightforward. An Oxygens engineer completes the installation, demonstrates every stage and makes sure you feel confident before leaving. My young son is now very familiar with the routine and, with adult supervision, confidently participates in preparing for and completing his sessions.
Safe use depends on choosing appropriate equipment, completing training, following the operating instructions and maintaining the system correctly. Oxygens soft-shell chambers incorporate three pressure-relief valves for redundancy, a rapid depressurisation option and a triple-zip closure system. Customers also receive installation training and ongoing support from our UK team.
HBOT is not suitable for everyone. Always discuss possible contraindications with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before use, particularly if you have a medical condition or are receiving treatment.
Quality management in the HBOT industry
“I am frequently asked about ISO 9001 within the HBOT industry, so I want to share what I have learned. Based on the information I have personally been able to verify, I have not identified another UK supplier whose own ISO 9001 certification specifically covers HBOT in the way Oxygens' certification does.
Some suppliers refer to certification held not by their company in the UK, but by their overseas manufacturer, while others hold ISO 9001 covering broader wellness products - not specific to HBOT. At Oxygens, our team has worked hard to have the UK design, manufacture, installation, hire and training of hyperbaric equipment independently inspected right here in the UK and certified under our own company's ISO 9001 quality management system.”
Read About Our ISO 9001 CertificationThis statement reflects the publicly available information Dr Sarah has personally been able to verify.
Speak directly with Dr Sarah
Arrange a friendly, no-obligation video consultation to discuss your interest in an Oxygens chamber, the available options and any practical questions about installation, training or ongoing support.
Read Dr Sarah Bishop’s published article exploring the history of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, its development over time and the growing use of mild HBOT chambers within the home.
Dr Sarah's psychology work is separate from her operational role at Oxygens. To learn more about her professional psychology background, visit DrSarahBishop.co.uk.