Update on Holiday Oxygen.

[PaulineHM]

Back from holiday- all went well except for the 02.

Well before I left, 3 weeks, I spoke to the oxygen nurse and went through what I usually use - A LOX Dewar and a concentrator. She asked me to call Air Liquide, the company who regularly supply me and told me that I was entitled to the equipemnt which I had been prescribed. Spoke to them and they told me they would place the order with Baywater ( who cover the area I was holidaying in).

Confirmation from Baywater came in a letter -two weeks before I was due to leave which listed every piece of equipment they would deliver to the Travelodge- this list matched my prescription. I had checked twice with the Travelodge that they would accept the LOX.

So the morning to leave for Wales arrived, car keys in hand about to close the front door behind me when the technician from Baywater phoned me to say he wouldn't deliver the LOX Dewar and I would have to use bottles instead. He told me that the Travelodge don't have the facilities to store a LOX dewar safely.

I had to make a swift decision. I didn't want to cancel the week away which I really needed. Had no option really but to accept the bottles. I hate using the bottles with a vengeance, I find them so limiting after using the LOX flasks. So bottles it was, no coastal path walking, no castle steps, no beach strolls and only having an hour and 20 mins before having to change the bottle.

If Baywater had told me at the outset and in good time then I could have cancelled my room in the Travelodge and tried somewhere else. It seems that unless a LOX Dewar can be stored outside, in a locked outdoor building then Baywater will not deliver them and that applies to people in their own homes too.

Thank goodness Air Liquide delivers a LOX Dewar here at home to me. Clearly there is a mismatch between companies in the UK. I plan to check this out with the other two companies in the country and hotel need to step up as well to proved equal access.

Has anyone else had this issue with a LOX Dewar in the UK ?

[Shellc]

I’m not of device your talking about but as well as a oxygen concentrator I also get prescribed a portable concentrator, this can be plugged into a car and electric mains which gives u much more freedom and

[PaulineHM in reply to Shellc]

Thank you. Unfortunately I am past using a concentrator in the car. My 02 needs are too much for that now. X

[sassy59]

What an absolute pain Pauline. Joined up thinking needs to be done I think and l hope something can be sorted out. Shame you couldn't do what you’d hoped you’d do but maybe next time.

Have a good weekend. Xxxxx🤗

[Izb1 in reply to sassy59]

Glad to see you on site Carole and hope you are recovering well without too many problems x

[Tykelady]

I think that the problem should be laid at the feet of Travelodge. As a Baywater client of many years I find that they have always bent over backwards to make sure my supply is not disrupted.

[PaulineHM in reply to Tykelady]

Thank you. I would have preferred Baywater to have been upfront with me in the beginning! I asked the technician if he tell me which hotels they deliver a Dewar to. He said he didn’t know of one! Other wise yes, their delivery of bottles every other day to me was good.

Yes , Travelodge and other hotels need to put things in place to make it accessible for us.

Go well.

[Izb1]

What a blinking shame, I am sure this must have limited your holiday and cant understand why the Travelodge haven't somewhere these could have been stored. I do hope you managed to enjoy the holiday anyway x

[PaulineHM in reply to Izb1]

Thank you. I just think they haven’t really kept pace with those of us who use liquid oxygen. Once I had arrived I did check if they had suitable place to store it and they told me they had not. I need to have a campaign I think ?

Go well

[Izb1 in reply to PaulineHM]

With a big company like Travelodge I would think they could be persuaded x

[PaulineHM in reply to Izb1]

Yes, you would think so wouldn’t you ? It seems from what folk have said on here in a previous post that Premier Inn may be a better bet unless I want to take on a project ???

Baywater don’t even deliver dewars to people in their own homes. I would find that very difficult to live with.

Go well.

[Patk1]

Poor do for u.so how did u manage Pauline? X

[PaulineHM in reply to Patk1]

Thank you. They gave me bottles and a trolley. Each bottle lasts me an hour and 25 mins! I was getting through 3 bottles a day! I had a concentrator in the room.

Go well.

[watergazer]

Sorry to hear some of your holiday enjoyment was curtailed however great that you did get away. What a pain! X

[PaulineHM in reply to watergazer]

Thank you. Yes I did appreciate the change of scenery.

Go well.

[jackdup]

that’s really unfortunate and after having confirmed things in writing prior to you going would be very disappointing that they could provide what they said they would. I’m not familiar with the LOX Dewar, what is so different about this that the Travelodge would not accept them?

[PaulineHM in reply to jackdup]

Thank you, yes it was disappointing. A LOX Dewar is a large tank of liquid oxygen, from which I fill two smaller flasks. Each flask lasts me about 4 hours. If I don’t use the small flasks, the oxygen in them will evaporate by the next day.

[jackdup in reply to PaulineHM]

so is there some risks with these that would justify the Travelodge from accepting them?

[PaulineHM in reply to jackdup]

Well yes, all oxygen is dangerous. I know of people who have set them selves on fire whilst using oxygen. At home the Fire service come and do a check of the house to ensure that I am as safe as possible, but it seems the Travelodge are very unaware of allowing people to stay with oxygen equipment. It is quite frustrating when we are all trying to keep as active as possible to keep well.

Go well.

[jackdup in reply to PaulineHM]

thanks

[Karenanne61]

How blimmin' frustrating!!! I hope that, despite this, you managed an enjoyable break.

[PaulineHM in reply to Karenanne61]

Thank you, I did enjoy a change of scene.

[Alberta56]

What a shame your holiday was messed up. Hope you had a good time in spite of the problem with oxygen.

[Socreates]

We had one delivered to Potters in Hopton on Sea and they were very helpful. Accepted delivery and Stored it wirh beer casks in a locked outdoor cage. We just had to ask security to accompany us to fill the fill the flasks.

[PaulineHM in reply to Socreates]

That is brilliant Socreates !! Thank you for letting me know. It is great to know it is possible. Who was the 02 supplier there, do you know ?

Today I have spoken with Baywater who I had the issue with and let them know how unhappy I was with their level of service. I have also spoken with Air Liquide today, who supply me when I am at home. I wanted to feedback to them my experience with Baywater because they put the order through to Baywater. Air Liquide just couldn't understand why Baywater have the policy they do re. LOX Dewars.

I might drop a line to the Hotel Association to follow things up a bit on this.

Go well.

Pauline

[Socreates]

We use air liquide at home in London I think supplier in Norfolk was BOC they also provided a compatible flask . POTTERS also have a resort in Essex but not sure if they do it. They are family run 5* fully inclusive holidays with great food and entertainment and loads to do all day right by the sea near Great Yarmouth with a hospital close by! I hope you find something suitable.