Oxygen services-Gloucestershire

[PaulineHM]

Hello people.

I am shouting out to people who live in Gloucestershire and who use oxygen.

Since the new contract with the NHS and Air Liquide began recently I have have had quite a few issues with failed deliveries. I order a LOX Dewar one or two days before I need it and then on the day of delivery Air Liquide phone me to say for some reason or another they are unable to deliver it as agreed. It really mucks up the plans I have for the week!

As a patient representative for the respiratory services in Gloucestershire I have passed my concerns about these failed deliveries to the ICB.

If you live in Gloucestershire and have issues with deliveries of oxygen please let me know. Can pass these issues on to be better managed. If you prefer not to put it here in a reply feel free to message me privately.

Enjoy your day.

pauline

[Timberman]

We have British Oxygen and have never had any problems. I suggest you ask your MP why the hell they changed supplier, especially as it sounds like a French company.

[PaulineHM in reply to Timberman]

Hi Timberman.

As far as I know the NHS South West and London haven’t changed the supplier. The contract was renegotiated last year and it is since the new 24/7contract was put in place that the issues seems to have arisen. Air Liquide have been delivering to me for 7 years. There always the occasional hiccough but now unreliable deliveries are a regular occurrence.

Does BOC supply a LOX Dewar to you ?

In fact Baywater were an issue on my holiday last year in Wales ! Would not fulfill my prescription because they wouldn’t deliver the LOX Dewar to the hotel room. Sigh!

Part of the issue I have is down to me cos I am just too busy, out and about most days. So I book a delivery when I know I can be home then it goes awry.

Pleased things are good for you at your end with BOC.

Go well.

Pauline

[Timberman in reply to PaulineHM]

Oxygen suppliers

There are 4 companies in England that provide home oxygen services for the NHS. Each covers a different geographical area. You can contact your supplier if you have a question about your device.

Air Liquide:

0808 143 9991 for London

0808 143 9999 for the South West of England

Baywater Healthcare: covers the North West of England, Yorkshire and The Humber, West Midlands and Wales (0800 373 580)

BOC: covers the East of England, East Midlands and Northern Ireland

Vivisol: covers the North East of England and the South East of England (0800 917 9840)

[PaulineHM in reply to Timberman]

Thanks for these numbers. At each delivery failure I wrote to customer feedback and each time they respond with the reason for the failure which I already know about ie. Van with a clutch gone. I have now fedback to my local ICB as well and they have take the issue up with the company. It seems to an issue that affects me as I live in a rural area. but I am keeping an open mind.

Go well.

Pauline

[MoosterMoo]

Sorry you're having issues Pauline. I have Baywater but have used air liquid quite a few times when travelling and never had any issues. Do you think it could be harder with having liquid oxygen? I'm thinking of trying liquid oxygen but not if it's going to cause delivery issues. Like you, I'm busy most days.

[PaulineHM in reply to MoosterMoo]

Thank you.

I had issues with Baywater last year on holiday in Pembrokeshire. They refused to deliver a LOX Dewar to an hotel room. They told me that it has be stored outside in a shed. They told me that people don't have LOX Dewars in their home. It has to be stored outside in shed or similar.

In general I find liquid oxygen much easier than bottles. It is a breeze. iWhen it is delivered I began with bottles but found them unmanageable . Too heavy and limited my mobility.

Air Liquide are happy to have it stored in my conservatory.

I would say give it a try ? If you don't get on with it then you can revert to your current system ?

Go well,

Pauline