The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7430 p682
9 December 2006

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Oxygen advice for travellers

Patients from Scotland or Northern Ireland who present prescriptions for cylinder oxygen to a community pharmacy in England or Wales should be referred to a GP or out-of-hours service, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has advised.

The NHS home oxygen service has issued guidance for home oxygen patients travelling away from home in which it urges patients to make arrangements for supply away from home before they leave.

However, the PSNC warns that some patients from Scotland and Northern Ireland, where supply is still provided through community pharmacies, may try to obtain oxygen with a prescription.

These patients should be referred to a GP or out-of-hours service to complete a home oxygen order form to send to the local oxygen service supplier.