Information supplied by Evan Williams of Air Liquide

Under the correct circumstances a sufferer of COPD can be prescribed home oxygen treatment to make their breathing easier. Air Liquide currently supply oxygen to patients throughout the South West. Home oxygen for a COD patient needs to be requested by a health professional, who will fill in a HOOF (Home Oxygen Order Form) with the oxygen prescription that tests show the patient needs.

The patient will receive a concentrator for home use, which is a device that filters nitrogen out of the air to deliver a supply of 95% pure oxygen, plus liquid oxygen or a small compressed oxygen cylinder for outdoor use. They will also receive a large oxygen cylinder for use if the concentrator fails or if there is a power cut. A broken concentrator should be repaired or replaced within 4 hours of a fault being logged. The electricity cost of using a concentrator is repaid quarterly.

For holidays, the patient can call customer services and they will arrange delivery of their normal prescription to the destination. Holidays abroad are more problematic as the oxygen will not be free and Air Liquide cannot arrange it, but the Department of Health may be able to provide contact numbers. You will need to check with your GP or respiratory nurse if you are fit to fly.

Find out more by clicking on this link: Air Liquide