The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7387 p155
11 February 2006

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Home oxygen hits problems days into new service

The new home oxygen service, which came into effect on 1 February, has run into problems within days of its introduction and community pharmacists are being asked to continue to provide a service.

“The principal cause has been disregard of the Department of Health’s advice to GPs on when to issue a new Home Oxygen Order Form (HOOF),” the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee said. “In many areas the transfer of the oxygen service to the new providers is utterly chaotic, particularly where GPs have issued the new HOOFs for all their patients with effect from 1 February. … These initial problems highlight the fragility of a system based on having only a single provider for a large region,” PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe added.

HOOFs are not being filled in correctly and there are delays in the generation of an electronic order receipt, John D’Arcy, National Pharmacy Association chief executive, explained to The Journal. “People are then phoning to see what has happened to orders — and this is all leading to increased demand on the system.”

The DoH said it is reinforcing messages to GPs that orders for oxygen should clearly state the service required to enable suppliers to meet response times. “We are also advising GPs, if they are concerned about possible delays to their patients who are using oxygen cylinders, that they can arrange with local pharmacies to continue to provide this service. … We recognise that some pharmacists have made plans to withdraw from the service but that many pharmacists remain ready to maintain a service to patients,” a spokeswoman said.

NHS Primary Care Contracting commented: “Pharmacy contractors that supply against an FP10 prescription will be paid until the patient transfers to a new supplier. Gas suppliers will continue to supply community pharmacies. … Pharmacies should continue with arrangements to wind down cylinders stocks and return to suppliers as patients transfer to new suppliers over the six-month transition period. Pharmacy contractors should also advise patients that they do not need to contact the supplier — the supplier will contact them in good time.”

Air Products and Vitalair have acknowledged that the high volume of calls has caused delays. Both companies have increased their resources to meet demand. In a statement Air Products added: “A period of transition had always been built into the new service arrangement. This included the continuation of GPs prescribing cylinder supplies for patients which they then obtain from pharmacists.”

The companies should have foreseen problems, however, Mr D’Arcy believes. “Pharmacists are doing their best and the extra cylinders that some pharmacies ordered are proving crucial. … And as yet, as far as I am aware, no patient has gone without oxygen, but that is purely down to the efforts and goodwill of pharmacists,” he told The Journal.