Community care plan for oxygen treatment

A NEW service is to be launched for patients with long-term breathing problems who need an oxygen supply at home as part of their treatment.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Mar 2011, 11:55 BST

NHS Bradford and Airedale has appointed BOC Healthcare to provide a community-based oxygen assessment service which will start on April 4.

Up to 1,000 people are on home oxygen therapy in the Bradford district.

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Most of them are elderly patients with long term respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and severe asthma.

The commissioning and contracting manager at NHS Bradford and Airedale, Sharron McMahon, said: “I’m very pleased that we’re starting this new assessment service as it will give chronically-ill patients who need home oxygen a much improved service, with extra support and regular check-ups to make sure they are getting maximum benefit from their therapy.

“We want to deliver the best possible care to this group of patients and this improved service is a really important step forward.”

Currently GPs prescribe home oxygen and on-going assessments of a patient’s need for oxygen are carried out by the local hospital trusts.

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But some patients may not have received the detailed reviews and follow-up support that the new service will provide.

Through the new community-based service, a team of respiratory specialists will assess and follow up patients who require oxygen therapy.

The specialists will initially assess each patient to find the correct therapy ensuring each patient receives the correct oxygen flow rate for the optimum period of time each day.

After the initial assessment, each patient will have a follow-up appointment, to make sure those new to oxygen therapy get the most from it.

Advice will also be provided from health experts to the patient and their carers.