What to Expect During Your Visit to NUMA
At NUMA, we're dedicated to making your experience with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as safe, effective, and comfortable as possible. Whether you’re new to HBOT or continuing a course of treatment, we're here to guide and support you every step of the way.
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a gentle, non-invasive treatment where you relax in a pressurised chamber while breathing in almost pure oxygen. The increased oxygen enhances the body's natural healing processes — supporting repair, reducing inflammation, and promoting recovery from within.
Want to know more? Click here for a deeper dive into HBOT
The NUMA Experience
At NUMA, we prioritise your safety, comfort, and care at every step. Before beginning treatment, you'll have a comprehensive consultation with our Medical Director, Dr. Nur — a former NHS Consultant with over 25 years of experience and specialist expertise in Hyperbaric and Regenerative Medicine. She will carry out a detailed health assessment and create a personalised treatment plan to ensure HBOT is safe, appropriate, and optimised for you.
Once your plan is in place, Dr. Nur will brief our clinical team, so you can move forward with your HBOT sessions confidently and calmly. From there, you can simply relax in the chamber, knowing everything has been carefully tailored with your personalised care plan in place. This step is never skipped — it's part of our deep commitment to medical precision and your peace of mind.
Your Treatment: Private, Calm, and Fully Supported
At NUMA, your Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) treatment takes place in a medical-grade Monoplace Hard-Shell Hyperbaric Chamber — meaning the space is yours alone for the entire session. It's quiet, private, and thoughtfully designed for comfort, safety, and a sense of ease.
- You'll be surrounded by ultra-clean, medical-grade filtered air, creating a pure and high-quality environment from start to finish.
- You'll wear a soft, specialised BIBS mask that gently delivers nearly 100% oxygen to enhance the therapeutic benefit of your session.
- Even without the mask, you'll be breathing clean, filtered air throughout — the mask isn't required for safety, but it plays a key role in maximising oxygen delivery and treatment effectiveness.
Throughout your session, you'll be in constant contact with our clinical team via the built-in intercom system. No microphone is needed — just speak naturally, and we'll hear you. You're never alone; we're always nearby, monitoring and supporting you every step of the way.
What Does a Session Feel Like?
Most patients find Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy deeply relaxing — even a welcome break from the outside world. During your session, you can read, watch a movie, listen to music, or simply rest. Many people find it peaceful; they drift off to sleep.
Each session gently unfolds in three phases:
1. Compression: The chamber gradually pressurises to the prescribed level — usually maximum 2.0 ATA, which feels a bit like descending in an airplane. You may notice a gentle fullness in your ears during this stage. This sensation is completely normal and lasts just a few minutes. Our team will guide you through simple techniques to equalise the pressure comfortably.
2. Treatment: Once the chamber reaches its target pressure, you'll relax and breathe oxygen through a soft mask. You'll take short air breaks at intervals, following international hyperbaric medicine standards. Throughout, our team will be monitoring you closely to ensure everything runs smoothly.
3. Decompression: Toward the end of your session, the pressure is slowly reduced, returning to normal air levels. You might feel a slight "pop" in your ears — again, totally normal and nothing to worry about.
From start to finish, you're supported by our trained clinical team. We're always nearby, always listening, and always ready to assist — so you can simply relax and enjoy the experience.
How to Prepare for Your Session
We want you to feel relaxed and ready. Here's how to prepare:
Do:
- Wear comfortable clothing.
- Bring a sweater, cardigan, or fleece to stay warm during your session.
- Wear socks in the chamber.
- Bring a book or other reading material (electronic items are not allowed in the chamber).
- Store personal belongings in the provided lockers.
- Use the bathroom before your treatment.
Do Not:
- Consume alcohol, caffeine, or nicotine before your treatment.
- Wear fur, outside coats, leather, or leather-like clothing.
- Bring or wear jewellery, including watches, in the chamber.
- Apply makeup, perfumes, hairsprays, deodorants, or creams before your session.
We've also created a short video walkthrough so you can visualise your visit before you arrive.
Who Will Be Looking After You?
Your treatment will be carried out by our kind and fully trained clinical assistants, and Dr. Nur will oversee your care throughout. You'll always have someone to talk to — before, during, and after your session.
Where to Find Us
NUMA
Lower Ground Floor
6 York Street
London
W1U 6QD
On arrival, press the doorbell labelled 'NUMA' and we'll let you in. Feel free to take the lift down to the Basement (B) level or use the stairs just next to it.
We'd be honoured to support you as you explore Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. If you have any questions at all, we're always happy to help — simply reach out to us via the link here.