The home oxygen therapy service (HOTS) is a specialist team who assess people who may benefit from oxygen therapy. Referrals are accepted for people who do not smoke. If you have recently stopped smoking, you will need to have been smoke free for a minimum of 3 months.
What is supplemental oxygen therapy?
Oxygen is needed to enable the organs in the body to work efficiently. As you breathe in air, the lungs take the oxygen from the air and moves it into the blood stream and then to the vital organs in the body. Sometimes the lungs cannot get enough oxygen into the blood and this can put a strain on the heart and blood vessels and increase fatigue from lack of oxygen to the muscle tissues.
In order to improve oxygen levels and reduce the strain on the heart and lungs, it is sometimes necessary for people to use oxygen for more than 15 hours a day (including overnight). This type of usage is termed Long Term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT). This is given to prevent complications but it may not help the sensation of breathlessness. However, you might also be given ambulatory oxygen (oxygen on the go) to reduce breathlessness if your oxygen level falls to low levels during exertion. The home oxygen therapy service will provide further information and advice about this.
Are there any alternatives to LTOT?
No. There are no alternatives to long term oxygen therapy.
What if I decide not to have LTOT?
The purpose of LTOT is to reduce the workload of the heart and lengthen your potential life expectancy. Choosing not to have LTOT may not affect your condition immediately. However, your symptoms are likely to increase overtime. LTOT has been shown to reduce the likelihood of heart failure and to increase life expectancy.
How will I know if I need LTOT?
The oxygen team will perform a simple blood test from the lobe of your ear. This is not painful but may cause slight discomfort.
The blood will be tested immediately and will show the oxygen level in your blood. If your oxygen level is satisfactory you will not be commenced on oxygen, but may be advised that you will be seen again at a future date. If your oxygen level is found to be reduced, a second appointment will be arranged (usually 3 weeks later) when a further blood test will be carried out.
At this second appointment if your oxygen level is still reduced you will be started on 30 minutes of oxygen therapy and a further blood test taken to make sure that the oxygen dose you will receive is right for you and does not cause you harm.
The specialist oxygen team will organise for oxygen equipment to be delivered to your home. This will be installed by a specialist technician who will instruct you on how to use the equipment and provide safety information.
What happens next?
The oxygen supplier will notify the fire service that oxygen has been installed at your home. The home oxygen therapy service will visit you at home usually within a week to check your progress. You will then be visited at regular intervals.
If your oxygen level in your blood is found is found to be within the normal range you will not receive supplemental oxygen therapy as studies have shown that this will not be of benefit to you and could even cause harm.
Contact details - Home Oxygen Therapy Services on 0161 206 0865.
Date of Review: August 2024
Date of Next Review: August 2026
Ref No: PI_M_1314 (NCA)