About us

The Richmond Respiratory Care Team provides a home oxygen service assessment and review (HOSAR) for patients with COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis, cluster headaches and palliative respiratory patients.

Oxygen is prescribed to patients with low oxygen levels (hypoxemia). Oxygen is a treatment for hypoxia; it is not a treatment for breathlessness. Patients who may require oxygen will be assessed against national criteria from the British Thoracic Society guidelines.

Palliative care patients are exempt from formal oxygen assessment. Richmond Respiratory Care Team prescribe two forms of oxygen therapy:

  • long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) - the provision of oxygen therapy for continuous use (minimum 15 hours a day) at home for patients with chronic hypoxia
  • ambulatory oxygen - the provision of oxygen therapy during exercise and activities of daily living

In Richmond, the oxygen supplier is Air Liquide. It delivers equipment directly to the patient’s home. They will calculate how often oxygen needs to be delivered, according to the information provided by the patient’s healthcare professional.

Referrals

This service is for patients:

  • who are aged 18 and over
  • who are registered with a GP in the NHS Richmond CCG
  • who show evidence of hypoxaemia
  • with a diagnosis of COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis or cluster headaches
  • receiving palliative care

Air Liquide: for standard deliveries, enquiries or requests

  • Freephone (landline): 0808 143 9991
  • Freephone (mobile): 0333 123 5469

Please note Air Liquide can only provide oxygen once patients have been assessed by a healthcare professional and had a home oxygen order form (HOOF) completed.