Important Information about Home Oxygen Services

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1 Important Information about Home Oxygen Services To: Cc: PCT Chief Executives CCG Leads HOS Commissioning Leads Respiratory services staff in both community and acute settings GPs and Practice Managers PCT Communications Leads Acute Communications Leads Community Health Communications Leads South Central Ambulance Service British Lung Foundation (BLF) The Home Oxygen Service is changing From 26th March 2012, home oxygen will be supplied by Dolby Vivisol. The change in supplier is coupled with new contract advantages that will both enhance service and quality and enable primary care trusts to commission a more cost effective and clinically appropriate service for patients. Advantages of the new contract The new contract will be better for patients as the decision about what modality and equipment is used will be clinically driven, whereas in the previous contract this was led by the supplier. This main advantage, coupled with new performance related penalty options, means that the new contract is better for both clinicians and patients. Financial reporting will be improved with a monthly report that shows a breakdown in fees and how costs are arrived at (there is 4% QIPP payment which will be achieved by service improvements and reduction in operating costs). Some of the areas covered by the key performance indicators (KPIs) are urgent orders on time, urgent call outs, reliability, timely electricity payments, prompt call answering and complaint resolution. Changes for patients The transition to new supplier and new contract has been planned to avoid any disruption to patients or clinicians. Patients will still call the same telephone number as before and speak to many of the same contact centre staff and technicians as before; as staff from the current supplier are transferring to the new supplier under the TUPE arrangements. Page 1 of 5

2 Ordering oxygen From the 26 th March 2012 there will be a new HOOF which will replace the current one. However, there is no need to provide a new HOOF on the contract start date for existing patients. A new home oxygen ordering form (HOOF) will only be required for new patients as they come onto the service or existing patients if a change in usage is required. The telephone number for patients and fax number that staff use to send the HOOF to the supplier on will remain the same. All HOOFs must be sent from a safe haven fax because the supplier will be returning the confirmed fax to the original number as well as to the HOS lead. Please note that this new HOOF will not be operational until just before the contract start date on 26 th March 2012 exact date to be advised. Training Training in completing a home oxygen ordering form (HOOF) will be available for all staff who need it. There are two separate parts to the HOOF Part A and Part B. Part A GPs (including out of hours), community matrons and acute clinicians who are not part of a HOS-AR team This part of the form is used by people who are prescribing oxygen for an interim period or prior to a HOS-AR assessment. Part A prescribers can only order a concentrator or a cylinder e.g. for palliative care or cluster headaches. Part A Training Part A HOOF training is quick and simple and can be accessed, at any time via the Dolby Vivisol website, at Please subscribe to the site and you will find all the information you need under Our Services, Oxygen Therapy, Health Care Professionals. You can choose to watch a video guide to completing Part A which will take around 90 seconds, or you can access a written guide. What is HOS-AR HOS-AR is Home Oxygen Service Assessment and Review. Many primary care trusts have been working over the last year or so to set these up, but some areas are more advanced with these services than others. Part B HOS-AR services and specialist paediatric teams only (unless otherwise agreed locally) Part B of the HOOF is designed for specialist respiratory prescribers and more detailed training has been provided for staff who will need to order oxygen using this section of the HOOF. The training will cover the rationale and changes to prescribing, the HOS-AR model and home oxygen modalities and equipment selection. If you need Part B training and haven t been contacted please sc-scg.hos@nhs.net Please register at so that you can access online training and receive important updates. Page 2 of 5

3 Patient Communication and Information All patients are being written to individually, via HOS commissioning leads. The letter they receive at the end of February will contain information about the new supplier, a reminder of the telephone number and that this will not change; together with the updated frequently asked questions (patient version). They will also be advised of the ordering arrangements for the Easter break. Dolby Vivisol has worked closely with patients, clinicians and the British Lung Foundation to produce a range of highly accessible patient information about the service which will be made available at contract changeover. Stakeholder Communication Primary care trust communications leads will cascade this briefing to the people identified at the top of the first page, but please share the following text widely on websites and in community newsletters. Please include your local LINKs, PPGs (patient participation groups) and any relevant community or voluntary organisations. The home oxygen service (HOS) supplier is changing across the South Central region, which includes Hampshire and Portsmouth. The new supplier will be Dolby Vivisol. The current supplier Air Liquide (Homecare) and Dolby Vivisol are working together closely with the NHS commissioners to make this change as safe, simple and easy as possible for patients and their carers. The change of supplier will not affect the day to day supply of oxygen and all patients will be written to individually, informing them of the change in supplier and reassuring them about continuity of supply. Patients will be able to call the same telephone number as before and will likely speak to the same staff and technicians. The switchover of supplier takes place on 26 th March 2012 and the patient telephone number for oxygen requirements will remain as For more information about the transfer, please contact the HOS Procurement Project Manager: sc-scg.hos@nhs.net, or your local HOS Lead: Hampshire and Portsmouth: Sue Blench, sue.blench@nhs.net Southampton: Alison Howett, Page 3 of 5

4 Next Steps Please register on the website and access training. Part A If you are a Part A HOOF user please go to this link to access the very short video on how to complete Part A. If you are unable to view the video please cliniciansupport@dolbyvivisol.com Part B If you are attached to a HOS-AR team, or are a specialist respiratory prescriber you should have been contacted directly by your HOS commissioning lead or Dolby Vivisol with information and dates for the specialist Part B HOOF training. Key programme dates Patients will receive individual letters from their primary care trust Part A HOOF Online Training available for Part A users Part B HOOF Training begins for specialist respiratory staff and HOS-AR Dolby Vivisol takes over direct communication with patients By 15 th March 2012 From 7th February th to 24 th February th March 2012 Project Panel There is a dedicated project lead to manage this transition with input from specialist teams e.g. IT and Communications as well as local leadership from each local HOS lead. The project team reports into the Regional Respiratory Board which is leading on respiratory matters in the region. The project team will give local and regional input to ensure the smooth transition to the new supplier for all patients Further information about the HOS re-procurement can be obtained from: HOS Procurement Project Manager, sc-scg.hos@nhs.net Local HOS Lead Sue Blench, sue.blench@nhs.net South Central Respiratory Programme Website To support the work of the South Central Respiratory Programme there is a website on NHS Networks. To join this virtual group please click the Join this Network Page 4 of 5

5 button via this link Please see also the updated list of frequently asked questions (FAQs). Page 5 of 5