Home Oxygen Service
The Home Oxygen Service is a specialised service managed and run by highly experienced respiratory nurses. The service is available to support all patients with a GP in the Blackburn with Darwen area, who use oxygen therapy at home. We work closely with all Health Care Professionals across all specialisms, as the service covers all ages from ’Cradle to Grave’.
The aim of the service is to ensure all patients seen are provided with coordinated personalised and holistic care and support, so that patients are safe and risk free at home or in their chosen environment, whilst on oxygen.
We aim to educate all patients to given them a better understanding about oxygen and the clinical reasons oxygen is prescribed. This enables patients to understand why oxygen may not be prescribed but also a better understanding how oxygen (if clinically required) can improve the patients wellbeing.
How to access the service
The Home Oxygen service only accepts patients via a referral form sent from a Health Care Professional. The Clinicians within the service will then assess the patient to see if they clinically require oxygen. If they don’t, they will be referred onto the appropriate Health Care professional.
If they do require oxygen then the service will support the patient and family by undertaking safety checks, completing the appropriate paperwork to order the oxygen and following up with the patients.
Important information to all patients seen in the Oxygen Service:
- Not all patients who are referred to the oxygen service will require oxygen.
- The nurses will undertake a full assessment and this will include looking at all your medications, especially your inhalers.
- Good inhaler technique is essential when managing all respiratory conditions and if taken correctly can relieve some of the symptoms patients experience on a daily basis.
Safety
Safety is an important part of the service. All patients on oxygen are risk assessed and all aspects of safety around oxygen in the home are discussed. This also includes advise on home and car insurance. If the patient requires oxygen while outside the house, discussions about being safe in the environments where you take your oxygen cylinder are discussed.
All patients are seen by Lancashire Fire and Rescue as part of the safety check.
Where the service is provided
The Home Oxygen Service clinic is based at:
Room SF11
Darwen Health Centre
Darwen
BB3 1PY
If the patient is unable to attend, then home visits are made available. Patients cannot self-book in, all appointments are sent out from the service in review date order, or if the patient clinically requires to be seen.
How to contact us
Tel: 01254 283578
By post at the above address.
Patient Information Leaflets
With our leaflets we aim to give you information about the Trust in general, our services and treatments, and to provide useful information for service users and their carers.