Oxygen Safety in the Home Mrs Elaine Pender Risk Advisor West Lancs. PCT

First Incident Fire occurred in Sheltered accommodation managed by West Lancashire District Council at on 13 th March Elderly lady smoking in bed Oxygen concentrator equipment installed in home

June 2004 Incident reported to WLPCT by WLDC and an initial meeting held. WLDC unhappy with equipment fitted to their property without knowledge or consent Fire not thoroughly investigated Financial compensation for damage to property requested

Identified problems Over 500 Home Oxygen users in West Lancashire (all age groups) WLDC unaware that Oxygen can be and had been fitted without their knowledge or consent Fire Brigade attended a fierce blaze at Did not know Oxygen on premises. It required 4 appliances in attendance to control the fire, Elderly neighbours evacuated and now frightened

Second Incident Bed bound patient Rescued by LF&RS Source of ignition –cigarette Patient using oxygen cylinders 80% room damaged 50% of remainder of property damaged

Third Incident Facial Burns up nose and in mouth Oxygen cylinder Mask off/cigarette in other hand

NO FATALITIES YET !! 2 properties destroyed 3 patients sustained burns No help nationally MHRA no action NPSA

Prescription Source Patients may be discharged on Oxygen therapy from the local hospital Patients may be discharged on Oxygen therapy from out of area specialist unit or hospital Patient may be prescribed Oxygen by the GP.

Oxygen Supply Source Oxygen may be delivered to the patients home by the pharmacist Relatives / Carers may collect from the pharmacist Delivery by BOC Oxygen concentrator installed

Who is giving the patient the information ? Not the hospital Not the GP Usually the pharmacist Maybe the oxygen company. Is the information patient friendly ?

What have we done ? Reported it to MHRA Reported it to NPSA Had across health economy working group Reported to SHA Consulted with Lancashire Fire and Rescue

Where are we at ? Formal Claim received and reported to NHSLA. Believe this to be a national problem. Anecdotal evidence that this is not an isolated incident Safety Leaflet produced

New Supplier Met with Air Products rep. Poor patient information blue /blue, small font Keen to take on board all our recommendations On going meetings to establish best practice

Ongoing Meetings With LFRS Hospital Trust Local Council Air Products Supplier

Churches Surgeries Hospital Road shows Health Promotion Displays District Nurses Where ever we can

Targets for the Future To ensure all users are aware of the risks To provide safety leaflets for all to understand Training to PCT staff by the Fire Service Consider air mattresses and their usage