Home oxygen therapy service

This was to enable services to be brought up to date and to ensure that every patient had access to modern equipment that was appropriate for them and their medical condition.

In the past, oxygen was usually prescribed by general practitioners (GPs) using a prescription form – a system which had remained largely unaltered for 50 years.

Extensive consultation across England and Wales regarding proposals to change the service took place in 2003/4. This was followed by the involvement of all key stakeholders in drawing up a detailed specification for the new service.

A full tendering process was undertaken and Air Products, an internationally renowned company, which had previously successfully provided oxygen services to patients in Wales and throughout the UK, was awarded the new contract.

How the new service helps patients

The home oxygen needs of patients are now met by a single supplier which has the expertise to make decisions on the best service for each individual. Patients will receive an improvement in their assessment procedures which will normally be undertaken in a secondary care setting, and they will have around-the-clock access to a central freephone (0800 373580 in Wales) for all their oxygen requirements.

How the new service is provided to patients

A clinician in primary or secondary care completes a Home Oxygen Order Form (HOOF) which is submitted to Air Products. The HOOF is sent directly to the local supplier who then contacts the patient to determine the most appropriate means of delivering the oxygen to the patient - by cylinder, concentrator, or liquid form, and undertake any necessary installation. The supplier is also responsible for ensuring the patient is trained to use the equipment provided and maintain regular contact for new supplies and equipment maintenance.

How the new service affects clinicians

The average GP has in the past had only small numbers of patients receiving oxygen therapy, meaning limited opportunity to develop the required expertise in assessing patients.

GP involvement is now limited to more specialist assessment and, in due course, all new and existing patients will be subject to regular clinical review and reassessment by specialist teams. The new contract significantly enhances the availability of information for clinicians on oxygen use by their patients.

What the new service means for community pharmacists

Community pharmacists have been the backbone of the service in the past, managing the ordering, storage and delivery of cylinders to patients. Now that all patients have transferred to the new service, community pharmacists will not normally have a responsibility for the supply of oxygen.

All oxygen orders are now sent from the clinician directly to the supplier, who will then deliver the oxygen cylinders and/or concentrators directly to patients. Community pharmacists will, however, continue to offer advice to patients as they do on many pharmacy-related issues.

Further information can be found from the following external websites:

Health of Wales Information Service

Community Pharmacy Wales