The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7343 p383
2 April 2005

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NPA meets with BOC to discuss oxygen service provision

Representatives of the National Pharmaceutical Association have met their BOC counterparts to discuss arrangements for oxygen service provision between 1 April, when BOC instituted its rental charge, and 1 October, when changes to the domiciliary oxygen service are due (PJ, 19 February, p197).

The two sides agreed that ensuring patients received the oxygen they needed was paramount and so it was essential to ensure that there were sufficient cylinders available. The NPA accepted that contractors should do everything possible to reconcile cylinders in their possession and to liaise with BOC on these reconciliations. However, in a report of the NPA board’s March meeting, the NPA said it believes that full and proper reconciliation may prove impossible. The board argues that community pharmacists should not face financial penalities for being unable to account for all cylinders.

The NPA is encouraging all its members to send details of any reconciliation with BOC to their primary care trusts with covering letters warning that if any costs fall on them, they will be looking to the PCT for compensation.