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Oxygen supply change criticised | Oxygen supply change criticised |
(20 minutes later) | |
The Welsh NHS has been criticised for its lack of preparation for changes to how home oxygen services are provided. | The Welsh NHS has been criticised for its lack of preparation for changes to how home oxygen services are provided. |
A report for the Auditor General for Wales said the cost of supplying home oxygen via a private company was underestimated by £4m. | |
The timescale for starting the new service was tight and the company given the contract for supplying the oxygen was unable to cope with demand. | The timescale for starting the new service was tight and the company given the contract for supplying the oxygen was unable to cope with demand. |
The assembly government said patients were now happy with the service. | The assembly government said patients were now happy with the service. |
Specialised oxygen equipment at home is often used by people with long-term respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis and emphysema, as well as patients with heart, pulmonary and cancer problems. | Specialised oxygen equipment at home is often used by people with long-term respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis and emphysema, as well as patients with heart, pulmonary and cancer problems. |
Without it they would effectively be forced to live in hospital. | Without it they would effectively be forced to live in hospital. |
Previously, patients needed a prescription for every oxygen cylinder, which was then supplied by the local pharmacy. | Previously, patients needed a prescription for every oxygen cylinder, which was then supplied by the local pharmacy. |
The whole unnecessary incident was managed chaotically, and it was also extremely distressing for our patients Phillip Parry, chair, Community Pharmacy Wales | The whole unnecessary incident was managed chaotically, and it was also extremely distressing for our patients Phillip Parry, chair, Community Pharmacy Wales |
In 2006, private companies took over the supply of oxygen cylinders in England and Wales. But the poor implementation left patients struggling to obtain their cylinders. | In 2006, private companies took over the supply of oxygen cylinders in England and Wales. But the poor implementation left patients struggling to obtain their cylinders. |
A report by auditor general Jeremy Colman said the intended benefits of the oxygen changes had still not been fully realised. | |
The cost to local health boards for the supply of home oxygen under the new contract, which was awarded to Air Products Plc, is about £6m a year - higher than the original estimate of £2m, the report said. | The cost to local health boards for the supply of home oxygen under the new contract, which was awarded to Air Products Plc, is about £6m a year - higher than the original estimate of £2m, the report said. |
It said the figure was based on inadequate information provided by the NHS on likely demand for the service. | It said the figure was based on inadequate information provided by the NHS on likely demand for the service. |
The report found that the timescale for preparations for the new contract did not provide any contingency in the event of problems. | The report found that the timescale for preparations for the new contract did not provide any contingency in the event of problems. |
It also said patients were not made fully aware of the new service until late in the changeover. | It also said patients were not made fully aware of the new service until late in the changeover. |
'Chaos' | 'Chaos' |
Mr Colman said: "The change in the arrangements for home oxygen services was not well managed and the reasons why those arrangements failed were foreseeable. | |
"It is disappointing that some of the intended benefits to patients have yet to emerge. | "It is disappointing that some of the intended benefits to patients have yet to emerge. |
"It is even more disappointing that previous lessons around contingency planning, risk management and communication with those affected or responsible for delivering change were not applied in this case." | "It is even more disappointing that previous lessons around contingency planning, risk management and communication with those affected or responsible for delivering change were not applied in this case." |
Among the recommendations made in the report was that the assembly government should now oversee better communications by health boards when announcing changes to services. | Among the recommendations made in the report was that the assembly government should now oversee better communications by health boards when announcing changes to services. |
Phillip Parry, chairman of Community Pharmacy Wales, which opposed the changes, said: "The whole unnecessary incident was managed chaotically, and it was also extremely distressing for our patients." | Phillip Parry, chairman of Community Pharmacy Wales, which opposed the changes, said: "The whole unnecessary incident was managed chaotically, and it was also extremely distressing for our patients." |
A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman pointed out that the report said it had responded swiftly to the initial problems. | A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman pointed out that the report said it had responded swiftly to the initial problems. |
But he said: "We acknowledge that the transition was not as straightforward as we would have wished. These difficulties were not unique to Wales - England experienced the same problems. | But he said: "We acknowledge that the transition was not as straightforward as we would have wished. These difficulties were not unique to Wales - England experienced the same problems. |
"A fully-integrated service is now being delivered and surveys show that patients are very satisfied." | "A fully-integrated service is now being delivered and surveys show that patients are very satisfied." |
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