Phased introduction for new oxygen service
National arrangements in England and Wales for community pharmacy-based oxygen contracts will end on 31 January 2006, four months later than originally planned (PJ, 11 June, p699). But a phased hand-over of responsibility for patients currently receiving oxygen cylinders from pharmacies is likely.
Last week, community pharmacies in England and Wales received a joint
letter from the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and the
Department of Health that said that the cylinder service would end unless
individual contractors had primary care organisation agreements to continue
to provide cylinders as a new contract enhanced service.
Contractors who have made plans to stop providing oxygen cylinders from
the beginning of October — the original date for the introduction
of new arrangements — will still be able to do so by transferring
their patients to other pharmacies that intend to continue to provide
cylinders until 1 February.
The phased hand-over is likely because the companies that have won regional
contracts for the new home oxygen service will only be responsible for
oxygen supplies prescribed on or after 1 February 2006.
Lindsay McClure, head of information services at the PSNC, said the PSNC
is likely to issue further guidance in the next week or so. |
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