Home Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen has traditionally been prescribed for those patients who have demonstrable respiratory disease which has lowered their blood oxygen levels either at rest or with exercise.

Other instances where oxygen has been prescribed have included Cystic Fibrosis, palliative care and paediatric/neonatal conditions.

In June 2004 the Department of Health announced plans to modernise the domicillary oxygen service in England and Wales. The new service will provide patients with many benefits including a full medical assessment of their oxygen needs.

Oxygen suppliers have been awarded contracts and they will be tasked to provide oxygen equipment to meet the needs of the patient including ambulatory oxygen. For the patient this means that they will only have one supplier for all their oxygen needs.

"The new services will ensure that patients have access to the latest equipment that meets their individual needs and helps improve their quality of life".

Jane Kennedy
Health Minister, June 2005

"The British Lung Foundation is delighted that people who need LTOT will have access to lightweight equipment that will enable them to go out more easily and so lead as full as life as possible".

Dame Helena Shovelton
Chief Executive of BLF, June 2005