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Issue 26 – 18 July 2006

Introduction

Welcome to Issue 26 of HOS@PCC

Our aim is to continue to keep you fully informed and to help ensure that the transition period is as smooth as possible. We will continue to share best practice and pass on your views, experiences and questions. We will continue to issue a HOS bulletin when we have specific news, updates and information to give you.

If you have any feedback please contact us at hos.newsletter@pcconline.info

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Previous Issues

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News and information

In this issue:

FP10 ROUTE CONTINUES

When the new home oxygen service was introduced on 1 February 2006, it was estimated that approximately 60,000 patients were receiving home oxygen therapy in England at any one time. Data gathered under the new service indicate a figure of over 75,000. The new service continues to support a wide range of patients – eg, premature babies, people with cystic fibrosis and people with heart disease and respiratory problems such as COPD.

To continue supporting the safe transfer of patients, it should be noted that GPs are still able to prescribe home oxygen via FP10s and those pharmacies that continue to provide a cylinder service may dispense prescriptions under usual NHS arrangements. This route will remain open until amendments are made to NHS regulations next year. The Drug Tariff will be amended from 1 August 2006 to reflect these arrangements.

BOC CONTINUES SUPPLY TO PHARMACY

Please be aware that the Department of Health has entered into an agreement with BOC to continue supply of oxygen cylinders to community pharmacies to 31 August 2006. Accordingly, if a pharmacy has an account with BOC for oxygen supplies, they can continue to place orders and these will be filled by BOC in accordance with existing arrangements. All previous correspondence received from BOC in relation to the return of cylinders post 31 July 2006 will NO LONGER apply until post 31 August 2006.

HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS

Where a patient resident in England or Wales wishes to go on holiday in England or Wales, the patient’s usual home supplier will make arrangements to meet the patient’s oxygen needs at the holiday destination, where:

  • the patient, patient’s family or carer has obtained prior permission from the owner of the hotel or any other accommodation for the delivery and storage of cylinders and / or the installation and removal of other equipment. This is not the responsibility of the GP, specialist team or supplier.
  • a patient’s GP or specialist team has completed a separate HOOF for the holiday period of supply, giving details of:
  • service(s) required
  • arrival / departure dates
  • holiday destination
  • contact at destination to arrange delivery
  • adequate notice is given of a patient’s holiday plans to allow supplier(s) to make the necessary arrangements whilst maintaining the delivery of services to local patients. It is suggested that at least two weeks’ notice is given, especially at peak periods (Christmas, Easter and the summer months).

Costs

Where a supplier provides a holiday service to patients resident in England or Wales outside the patient’s usual ‘home’ service region, the cost is borne by the PCT (or LHB in Wales) in which the patient’s GP practice is located.

SCOTLAND AND IRELAND

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, community pharmacists continue to provide an oxygen cylinder service with a specialist supplier providing the concentrator service under contract, as set out in a GP prescription. The four UK health departments have agreed arrangements to support continuity of supply to patients resident in England and Wales who wish to visit Scotland and Northern Ireland and vice versa.

Costs

Where patients resident in England or Wales visit Scotland or Northern Irelands, the cost of the service provided to them during their stay will be borne by the local Health Board for the area visited. Similarly, for patients from Scotland or Northern Ireland visiting England or Wales, the cost will be borne by the PCT (LHB in Wales).

Cross Border Arrangements

There are continuing discussions between the 4 UK Health Departments and suppliers to support continuity of supply to patients using oxygen throughout the United Kingdom. Discussions are based on a draft memorandum included on the HOS Bulletin but please note that these arrangements are not yet finalised.

 

HOLIDAYS ABROAD

Suppliers are not required to provide a service outside the United Kingdom but are free to make private arrangements with any individual patient wishing to travel abroad.

Cruise holidays

As with other holidays outside the UK, patients will need to check before they travel that the shipping company is happy for them to take equipment on board and that their local supplier is happy for them to use the supplier’s equipment while on board. These are private arrangements to be made between a patient, the cruise company concerned and the patient’s local supplier – not the patient’s GP or specialist team, the PCT in which the port or airport is located or the supplier providing an NHS home oxygen service in that area.

OVERSEAS VISITORS

An overseas visitor can approach the local PCT for the area for which he / she is visiting or may approach a practice directly. A practice has discretion to accept someone on to its list as a temporary resident if they are living in the area for more than 24 hours or less than 3 months. This does not automatically entitle them to free NHS treatment – see the Department of Health website on overseas visitors’ eligibility for primary medical services.

ADVERSE INCIDENT SEMINAR

The PCC events team hosted a well-attended seminar on 6 July 2006. It key objectives were to achieve:

  • a common understanding of service quality by all stakeholders
  • clarity of reporting frameworks
  • clarity of responsibilities
  • shared experience and learning

SHA oxygen leads, risk managers from the oxygen supply companies and NHS and DH communications leads attended. It was agreed that the key actions were to establish a common language and to produce flowcharts and maps that clearly illustrate procedures surrounding serious untoward incidents. The home oxygen communications team is developing these and they will be shared as soon as they are available.

WIDER STAKEHOLDER SEMINAR

The PCC events team also hosted a seminar on 7 July 2006 for a wide number of people and organisations for whom home oxygen is a key issue. This included delegates from the British Lung Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, British Thoracic Society, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, National Pharmacists Association and the Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology alongside NHS health professional and oxygen leads.

Following an update on progress with the home oxygen service, the day then focused on:

  • Assessment and follow up
  • Communications

Feedback from the seminar was extremely useful and will inform the Home Oxygen regional events that are due to roll out in the early Autumn – further details will be published soon

Click here to access the presentation from the seminar

COMMUNICATIONS

Two new oxygen-dedicated stand-alone websites – one for patients and one for health professionals – are currently being developed. Both are on schedule to be launched towards the end of August. Feedback from all delegates at the wider stakeholder seminar is being used to inform site content but we would also welcome your ideas and suggestions.

Please note that Sarah Wrixon is on annual leave for the last two weeks of July. If you have any queries during that time, please contact Ben McClelland at ben.mcclelland@pcc.nhs.uk

 

Key documents

For advice and guidance on paediatric oxygen please go to www.bprs.co.uk/oxygen.html.

HOOF (Home oxygen order form: Word version)

HOCF (Home oxygen consent form: Word version)

The BTS Clinical Oxygen group has prepared a Home Oxygen Record Form

The DH approved HOOF is available here

The HOCF is available here

Please click here for full details of your new regional oxygen supply company.

Key links

British Thoracic Society clinical guidelines
www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/c2/oads/oxygenserviceaug05.pdf
British Lung Foundation
 

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HOS@PCC is produced by the Primary Care Contracting Team