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Community Home Oxygen, Assessment and Review Service – Portsmouth City

The Specialist Home Oxygen,  Assessment and Review Service is made up of specialist physiotherapists or registered nurses. We are responsible for the assessment and review of patients who already receive or are felt they may benefit from oxygen therapy at home, mainly those with an underlying respiratory or cardiac condition.

The service covers patients registered with a Portsmouth CCG GP.

The team of two specialist physiotherapists are happy to assist where possible and happy to provide expert advice.

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Referral criteria

Referrals to the home oxygen service can only by made by a registered clinician.

Referrals can be completed via SystmOne e-referrals (please ensure you task recipient 1 Home Oxygen eReferral). Any referrals that do not have the required clinical information to appropriately triage or meet criteria will be rejected. We do not accept referrals via SPA.

If a patient is already on oxygen you do not need to complete a formal referral but please contact us directly, ideally by telephone, to discuss

Referrals to the Home Oxygen Service can only be made by a registered clinician.

Oxygen is not a treatment for breathlessness in the absence of chronic hypoxia.                                                     

Oxygen should only be considered once patients have a confirmed diagnosis, optimally controlled and clinically stable.

 

Reference: BTS Guidelines for Home Oxygen Use in Adults (2015)

 

Long Term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT):

  • Indicated for chronic hypoxic patients with a confirmed diagnosis and who are optimally managed.
  • Patients with a pulse oximetry of SpO2 ≤92% on air (or ≤94% with known Polycythaemia, Cor Pulmonale or Pulmonary Hypertension) when stable should be considered for referral for LTOT.
  • Minimum of eight weeks post exacerbation (or as long as possible if frequently exacerbates).
  • LTOT is to be worn for a minimum of 15 hours a day in order to derive the intended clinical benefit.

Ambulatory Oxygen Therapy (AOT):

  • Patients who desaturate by 4% or more to below SpO2 90% when mobilising when stable.
  • AOT is advised for use on exertion only when mobilising outdoors.

 

Short Burst Oxygen Therapy (SBOT):

  • SBOT is not evidence based in the absence of hypoxia.
  • SBOT is recognised as a treatment for Cluster Headaches if provides symptomatic relief.

 

Palliative Oxygen Therapy (POT):

  • POT is not evidenced in absence of hypoxia and alternative treatments, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, should be considered and suitably trailed before commencing POT.

If a patient is end of life, it may be suitable for a clinician, rather than refer to the HOSAR team, to commence oxygen therapy based on individual assessment considering an improvement to oxygenation, reducing dyspnoea and improving quality of life. We are happy to provide advice regarding the Home Oxygen Order Form (HOOF) completion in these circumstances.

  • When assessed or reviewed for a current supply the patients safety, and that of others, will be considered and assessed. If the risk, despite appropriate and feasible steps to mitigate, is deemed to remain high by the Home Oxygen Service oxygen therapy may not be commenced or if required may be removed.
  • Serious consideration should be given to current or relapsing smokers regarding commencement or continuation of oxygen therapy. Risk or compliance should be considered and Oxygen may not be commenced or may be removed.

  • Serious consideration must be given to those who do not adhere to minimal requirements of use of oxygen therapy to achieve clinical benefit. (as per guidelines) This needs to be considered prior to referral and will also be considered on assessment and review.

Full service description

We assess for Long Term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT) and Ambulatory Oxygen (AO), as per national guidelines. We ensure the correct order of home oxygen, appropriate to the individual at that moment in time.

Oxygen therapy is NOT a treatment for breathlessness in the absence of chronic hypoxia (low oxygen in the blood)

Oxygen is only to be considered once a patient has a confirmed diagnosis, clinically stable and optimally controlled.

Reference: BTS Guidelines for Home Oxygen Use in Adults (2015)

 

Long Term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT):

  • Indicated for chronic hypoxic patients with a confirmed diagnosis and who are optimally managed.
  • Patients with a pulse oximetry of SpO2 ≤92% on air (or ≤94% with known Polycythaemia, Cor Pulmonale or Pulmonary Hypertension) when stable should be considered for referral for LTOT.
  • Minimum of eight weeks post exacerbation (or as long as possible if frequently exacerbates).
  • LTOT is to be worn for a minimum of 15 hours a day in order to derive the intended clinical benefit.

 

Ambulatory Oxygen Therapy (AOT):

  • Patients who desaturate by 4% or more to below SpO2 90% when mobilising when stable.
  • AOT is advised for use on exertion only when mobilising outdoors.

 

Short Burst Oxygen Therapy (SBOT):

  • SBOT is not evidence based in the absence of hypoxia.
  • SBOT is recognised as a treatment for Cluster Headaches if provides symptomatic relief.

 

Palliative Oxygen Therapy (POT):

  • POT is not evidenced in absence of hypoxia and alternative treatments, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, should be considered and suitably trailed before commencing POT.

If a patient is end of life, it may be suitable for a clinician, rather than refer to the HOSAR team, to commence oxygen therapy based on individual assessment considering an improvement to oxygenation, reducing dyspnoea and improving quality of life. We are happy to provide advice regarding the Home Oxygen Order Form (HOOF) completion in these circumstances.

Other information & documentation

  • Risk Assessment:
  • When assessed or reviewed for a current oxygen supply the patient’s safety, and that of others, will be considered and assessed. If the risk, despite appropriate and feasible steps to reduce these is deemed high by the Home Oxygen Service, oxygen therapy may not be commenced or if required may be removed.
  • Serious consideration should be given to current or relapsing smokers regarding commencement or continuation of oxygen therapy. Risk or compliance should be considered, and Oxygen may not be commenced or may be removed.

Contact Information

Linda Stephens

0300 123 3996, option 2

N/A

home-oxygen-service@solent.nhs.uk

Block B, St Mary’s Community Campus, Milton Road, Portsmouth, PO3 6AD

Opening hours

  • Monday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
  • Tuesday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
  • Wednesday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
  • Thursday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
  • Friday: 8:00am - 4:00pm

Special Notice
The service operates Monday to Friday 08.00-16.00 (with exclusion of bank holidays). Please note we are not an emergency service, in case of an emergency please contact your GP, 111 or 999.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

Please visit our services page for specific services and contact details. Alternatively, contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service by emailing or calling the number below. You can also give us feedback, make a complaint or share a compliment.

pals@solent.nhs.uk

0800 013 2319

*Lines are open Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm.

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act was passed on 30 November 2000. It gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, with full access granted in January 2005.

The Act sets out exemptions to that right and places certain obligations on public authorities.

Email: InformationGovernanceTeam@solent.nhs.uk

Phone: 0300 123 3919

*Subject to any exemptions which apply, we are obliged to provide the information requested please note that requests for Personal Information is not covered under this Act and should be applied for through the Data Protection Act 1998.

Our administrative and managerial centre is based in Southampton.

While our services can be found around various NHS locations in Southampton and Portsmouth (and surrounding districts), our administrative and managerial centre is based in Southampton at:

Highpoint Venue
Bursledon Road
Southampton
SO19 8BR

If you require a printable version of how to find us including bus times, car access and bike info please download our leaflet. (Copyright of Highpoint Venue).

Central office phone: 0300 123 3390

*Lines open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

If you are a journalist with a media enquiry, please contact the Communications Team at:

communications@solent.nhs.uk

0300 123 4156 or 02381 031076

The Communications Office is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.