The weekly news bulletin from the Home Oxygen Service team.

Issue 2
14 October 2005

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Introduction

Welcome to Issue 2 of HOS@PCC

Our aim is to keep you fully updated on all developments relating to the implementation of the new Home Oxygen Service on 1 February 2006. We also aim to share best practice and actively welcome your views, experiences and questions. Please contact  hos.newsletter@pcconline.info

The bulletin will be emailed directly to SHA and PCT oxygen leads, new oxygen supply companies and other key stakeholders but please feel free to email it to any colleague you think might be interested in the information it contains.

Anyone wishing to subscribe may do so. If you missed Issue 1 click here.

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• The patient information leaflet has been produced and will start to be distributed w/c 17 October. Distribution to all general practices and pharmacies will be completed by the end of October. To see a copy of the accompanying letter to GPs and pharmacists click here.
• To help ensure patients and carers are aware of the changes, current cylinder suppliers will aim to include a leaflet with each cylinder provided to pharmacies for delivery to patients’ homes.
• The companies currently delivering the oxygen concentrator service will also have supplies of the leaflet to help ensure that information is available to these patients.
• The BLF make the leaflet available to local Breathe Easy groups.

To see patient information leaflet click here

Patient data collection

We are aware there is an urgent requirement for the model consent letter for PCTs to send to patients. This is being finalised today.

Drug Tariff letter for GPs

• HEADSETS

PCTs have been advised to step in where there are shortages of headsets and to purchase s supplies of these items and allocate to community pharmacists.

• CYLINDER AMNESTY

The possibility of launching a national cylinder amnesty to encourage patients and others to return unwanted cylinders is being explored with the co-operation of the BLF and new suppliers.

FAQs

Key deadlines for PCTs

• 11th November 2005
Completion of data collection on current cylinder patients
Pass core patient data (postcode and usage information - see toolkit click here) to supplier to allow them to undertake logistics planning. Please note no patient identifiable data should be passed to the supplier at this stage.
• 24th December 2005
PCTs to have gained concentrator and cylinder patient consent for transfer of data to new suppliers. Model consent letter available shortly - see below.
• 6th January 2006
Handover of all patient data to new suppliers
• 1st February 2006
New Home Oxygen Service comes into effect.

Key documents

Letter to LPC secretaries: 2122L Oxygen Cylinders: Dispensing/Endorsing Guidance www.psnc.org.uk/oxygen

Key links

British Thoracic Society clinical guidelines click here

www.blf-uk.org

Cystic Fibrosis Trust www.cftrust.org.uk

Long Term Medical Conditions Alliance www.lmca.org.uk