Oxygen

How might oxygen help?
How is oxygen prescribed and delivered?
Types of oxygen treatment
Oxygen cylinders
Oxygen concentrators
Liquid oxygen
Portable oxygen
Other systems
Oxygen suppliers in England and Wales

How might oxygen help?

The air we breathe contains 21% oxygen - a gas vital to every cell in our bodies. People with lung problems may have to work much harder to obtain all the oxygen they need. The extra effort involved can cause breathlessness and tiredness, particularly after walking or coughing. Doctors have found that, for some people, breathing air with a higher concentration of oxygen can reduce these symptoms.

This treatment is not helpful for everyone with lung problems and a chest specialist will assess whether extra oxygen is appropriate for your condition. This is done by some simple tests to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood. At the same time all the other aspects of your treatment can be reviewed, since alteration to them may be of benefit.

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How is oxygen prescribed and delivered?

England and Wales:

If your doctors think you might benefit from oxygen therapy, you will go to your hospital specialist for tests.

If she or he prescribes oxygen for you, your details are sent to the oxygen supply company for your area, who will contact you directly. The supply company is responsible for everything to do with your oxygen supply. There is a list of Oxygen suppliers at the bottom of this page.

NB: this is a new system, which has been introduced since 1st February 2006.

Scotland and Northern Ireland:

If you are prescribed oxygen, by your GP or by your specialist, your oxygen supply is dealt with by your GP and local pharmacy.

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Types of oxygen treatment

Oxygen can be obtained from compressed oxygen cylinders, liquid oxygen in cylinders or from an oxygen concentrator machine, which extracts oxygen from the air. If you use oxygen for short periods to relieve attacks of breathlessness you will probably be prescribed oxygen cylinders. For people who would benefit from oxygen for a significant number of hours a day, often taken whilst asleep, oxygen concentrator machines are more convenient and cost effective.

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Oxygen cylinders

When you use an oxygen cylinder, you breathe oxygen in either through a mask, or through soft tubes in your nose (called cannulae). When you first use oxygen, all of this will be explained to you carefully.

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Oxygen concentrators

An oxygen concentrator is a machine about 2 feet square and 2½ feet high. It plugs into the ordinary household electricity supply. It filters oxygen from the air in the room, and this oxygen is then delivered by plastic tubing to a mask or nasal cannula. Long tubing can be fixed around the floor or skirting board, with two points where the user can "plug in" to the oxygen supply.

If you are prescribed an oxygen concentrator, your doctor will notify the company which supplies them for the NHS in your area. When the machine is installed the engineer or nurse will discuss with you the length of tubing you will need. It is also possible to have an additional outlet in an upstairs room.

The machine is very quiet and compact, and the engineer will explain to you, or to a friend or relative, how to use it and will be able to answer any questions you may have. Concentrators use about two pence worth of electricity an hour, and this is paid for by the NHS. A "back-up" cylinder of oxygen is also provided in case of breakdown and regular maintenance visits will be made to make sure that the concentrator is always operating perfectly.

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Liquid oxygen

Portable tanks containing oxygen compressed into liquid form can contain more oxygen than when it is compressed, and can be lighter, too. Ask your oxygen supplier for details.

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Portable oxygen

People with lung problems who are using oxygen in the home, either for short periods to relieve attacks of breathlessness or for a number of hours each day or night as a long-term therapy, may wish to have a small portable cylinder to enable them to take oxygen outside the home. It is important that you discuss the matter with your specialist and are fully assessed to see whether portable oxygen is likely to be helpful.

Portable cylinders contain 230 or 260 litres of oxygen (depending on the manufacturer), and are available with flow outputs set at 2 litres per minute, 4 litres per minute, or with an adjustable scale (up to 4 litres per minute). The flow required is assessed by your lung specialist. When full these cylinders weigh about 5½ lbs and hold just under two hours of oxygen at 2 litres per minute.

It is also possible to have semi-portable oxygen cylinders. These cylinders are heavier than the 230 litre size, at 300 litres, and not really suitable for carrying far but do facilitate getting out of the house. Doctors usually prescribe two of these cylinders which are appropriate for the exchange system (see below).

As with any oxygen equipment, portable cylinders must be used according to the manufacturer's safety instructions to avoid a fire risk.

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Other systems

Once turned on, oxygen cylinders usually release a constant flow of oxygen whether the user is inhaling or not. A system is available which regulates the oxygen flow according to each breath, eliminating oxygen wastage so that the cylinder lasts many times longer than a with continuous flow system.

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Oxygen suppliers in England and Wales

If you live in Avon; Birmingham; Black Country; Cheshire; Cumbria; Dorset; Gloucestershire; Grt Manchester; Lancashire; Leicestershire; London North; Merseyside; North Lincolnshire; Northants; Rutland Trent; Shropshire; Somerset; South West Peninsula; Staffordshire; Wales; West Midlands South; Wiltshire; Yorkshire - your supplier is:

Air Products, tel: 24/7 Freephone Helpline 0800 37 35 80

If you live in Hampshire; Isle of Wight; Kent; Medway; South East London; South West London; Surrey; Sussex; Thames Valley - your supplier is:

Allied Oxycare/Medigas, tel: 24/7 Freephone Helpline 0500 82 37 73

If you live in Bedfordshire; Cambridgeshire; Essex; Herts; Norfolk; Suffolk - your supplier is:

BOC, tel: 24/7 Freephone Helpline 0800 13 66 03

If you live in County Durham; Northumberland; Tees Valley; Tyne & Wear - your supplier is:

Linde Gas, tel: 24/7 Freephone Helpline 0808 202 09 99

If you have any other questions, please call the BLF helpline on 08458 50 50 20, Mon - Fri, 10am - 6pm.

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