Secondary supply means a supply at a location other than the patient's ordinary place of residence. In practice, this often means travel to a holiday destination (either with a travel company or to visit friends and relatives), but can also mean a regular supply in another location (e.g. school, work, university, or where a patient regularly stays at another location).
The leaflet "Your oxygen supply when away from home" was issued to all Home Oxygen Service patients in late 2006. Hard copies of this leaflet are still available from suppliers. An electronic copy of the leaflet can be downloaded from www.homeoxygen.nhs.uk.
Information about the necessary steps for ensuring secondary supply in England and Wales is available in the HOS Manual.
A Memorandum of Understanding exists between the four UK health departments, detailing the arrangements for patients travelling within the four UK Home Nations.
The Home Oxygen Service (including its MoU with Scotland and Northern Ireland's Health Departments) covers the United Kingdom only. Patients travelling outside this area (including the Isle of Man, the Commonwealth and Crown Dependencies) must make private arrangements for oxygen provision. This includes cruises, whether or not they depart from UK ports.
The European Economic Area (EEA) covers all countries within the European Union (EU), as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Patients travelling within this domain should make private arrangements for oxygen therapy, but should also ensure that they have a European Health Insurance Card (which replaces the E111 form).
Visit the EHIC website for more information
Visit the Department of Health for more information about healthcare within the EEA.
NHS Choices has country-by-country guides to medical treatment for UK nationals abroad.
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