Home Oxygen Service

Covid-19 update: Home oxygen order form (HOOF) letters and guidance

The service provides home oxygen therapy to patients diagnosed with a long term respiratory condition and are registered with a GP in west Essex.

Oxygen therapy can be beneficial for patients with the following conditions: 

• Bronchiectasis
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Interstitial lung disease
• Pulmonary malignancy
• Pulmonary vascular disease
• Severe chronic asthma

Assessment for oxygen for patients with these conditions is undertaken by the Community Respiratory Specialist team. Please be aware the team is unable to provide assessments or prescribe oxygen for non-respiratory patients. They are able to provide an advisory service to prescribing clinicians, if needed.

The Community Respiratory Specialist team also provide the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme. It is an education and self-management programme for patients with chronic respiratory disease.

Making a referral

You can refer a patient with a long term respiratory condition for assessment and initiation of home oxygen via Single Point Access (SPA). You need to use the SPA referral form.

For the pulmonary rehabilitation programme, use the pulmonary rehab referral form.

Ordering oxygen from BOC

BOC supply home oxygen to patients.

GPs, specialist nurses, matrons and palliative care nurses may order oxygen for a patient.

Patients or carers who are smokers need to link in with local smoking cessation services.

Patients who are at high risk of trips and falls need special consideration when considering oxygen therapy.

If you have concerns about the safety of patients using oxygen, which may relate to fire risk or clutter, you can arrange a free home visit.

Refer to the Essex Fire and Rescue Service online form.

For immediate home oxygen before specialist assessment, complete the Home Oxygen Risk Mitigation (IHORM) and Home Oxygen Consent Form (HOCF).

Complete the Home Oxygen Order Form (HOOF) via the Home Oxygen Portal. You will need to register. Registrations are processed the same day. You will receive email confirmation when you are able to access the portal. You’ll get access to either Part A or Part B online ordering forms based on your profession. 

If you wish to discuss a patient with BOC you will need to be added to the clinician register. You can download this form from the portal.

Find further help in the YouTube video below. A How to guide - submitting a Home Oxygen Order Form.

Withdrawing oxygen therapy

If at review a patient no longer meets the criteria for home oxygen, the prescribing clinician must:

• explain this to the patient
• stop supplying oxygen to the patient by submitting a removal request via the portal
• review other prescribed treatments.

If the patient continues to meet the criteria but isn't using the oxygen as prescribed, the clinician should:

• give advice and support on the benefits of the therapy
• encourage the patient to increase usage to the recommended level.

In some circumstances, it may be appropriate to withhold or withdraw oxygen because of public safety and risk to others. In this instance, a Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting should be organised.

Related information

• Home oxygen supplies during Covid-19 and the Good HOOF guide for Primary Care and Out of Hours Teams
• Oxygen in cluster headaches guidance statement