Patients who need oxygen therapy at home are set to benefit from a new support service.

There are up to 1,000 adult patients on home oxygen therapy in the Bradford district who are mainly elderly people with long-term respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and severe asthma.

GPs prescribe home oxygen and on-going assessments of a patient’s need for oxygen are carried out by hospital trusts, however, some patients might not have received the detailed reviews and follow-up support needed.

NHS Bradford and Airedale has now appointed BOC Healthcare to provide the community-based oxygen assessment service for patients within the district, with a starting date of Monday, April 4.

The service will be provided by a team of respiratory specialists who have expertise in oxygen assessment and respiratory care.

Sharron McMahon, commissioning and contracting manager at NHS Bradford and Airedale, said: “I’m very pleased that we’re starting this new assessment service as it will give chronically ill patients who need home oxygen a much improved service, with extra support and regular check-ups to make sure they are getting maximum benefit from their therapy.

“BOC Healthcare is very experienced in delivering respiratory healthcare services in other parts of the country and we look forward to working with them. We want to deliver the best possible care to this group of patients and this improved service is a really important step forward.”

Gillian Robb, of BOC Healthcare, said: “Our aim is to improve outcomes for patients living with oxygen by helping each individual patient get the most from their oxygen therapy. “BOC Healthcare takes a patient-centred approach and through thorough assessment, monitoring and supportive care this service will improve the experiences of patients needing oxygen therapy.”

  • Read the full story in Tuesday's T&A