Being discharged from hospital with oxygen Turnberg Building Respiratory Medicine 0161 206 0865 All Rights Reserved 2018. Document for issue as handout.
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. If the oxygen level is slightly low, this does not usually lead to breathlessness. However, your medical condition itself may cause breathlessness. Most breathless patients have a good oxygen level and do not benefit from oxygen therapy. As your condition improves and your medical team begins to plan your discharge home it may be felt that your oxygen levels are still slightly low and you may be issued with a temporary supply of oxygen to be used at home until you are reviewed by the Home Oxygen Therapy Service (HOTS). What will happen at my oxygen review appointment? You may need a further oxygen assessment If this is required the oxygen team will visit usually 5 to 6 weeks after your hospital discharge and 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 blood oxygen level has improved you will be able to stop using your temporary oxygen therapy. If your blood oxygen level remains low you may need to continue with the oxygen therapy. In order to improve oxygen level and reduce the strain on the heart and lungs, it is sometimes necessary to use oxygen for more than 15 hours a day (including overnight). This type of usage is called LTOT (long term oxygen therapy). 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 exercise. The oxygen team will provide further information and advice about this. If you do not need a further assessment The specialist will review your current prescription and make sure this is still appropriate for your needs. 1 2
My Oxygen Prescription DO NOT alter your flow rate. This prescription is set at a safe level for you and should only ever be changed by a specialist. (patients prescription written here in free text - with instructions how to use) Do I need to take any special precautions when using oxygen therapy? YES. Oxygen therapy can cause fire if used near a naked flame. For example, open fires, lighters, matches, cookers, candles. DO NOT smoke or use an e-cigarette near the oxygen source even when it is not in use? E-cigarettes should not be left charging unattended or overnight and should only be used with the charger provided. DO NOT use products containing grease or oil on or near to the face, for Example, Vaseline and lip balms. Water based products CAN be used instead. If you need to apply specialist creams to your body ALWAYS ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly before dealing with your oxygen and should also make sure that you wash bedding and night clothes regularly. Oxygen can be worn whilst eating but DO NOT wear whilst cooking. DO NOT store oxygen in the same place as other flammable materials. IF using alcohol hand gel, you should ensure that your hands are completely dry before you touch your oxygen. DO be careful to ensure that your oxygen tubing does not come into contact with anything that could melt it - you should always make sure that oxygen equipment should be kept at least 3 meters away from heat sources. DO check the position oxygen tubing before walking around the home to ensure that you do not trip or slip. What happens next? 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. The oxygen supplier will notify the fire service that oxygen has been installed at your home. The fire service is routinely notified when oxygen equipment is installed in any new address. 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. 3 4
Patient Name: Notes My follow up You will be seen at home for a routine safety visit by HOTS on You will have a formal oxygen review by the specialist nurse on Contact details Home Oxygen Therapy Service 0161 206 0865 5 6
G18061903W. Design Services Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust All Rights Reserved 2018 This document MUST NOT be photocopied Information Leaflet Control Policy: Unique Identifier: MED37(18) Review Date: August 2020 For further information on this leaflet, it s references and sources used, please contact 0161 206 0865. Copies of this leaflet are available in other formats (for example, large print or easyread) upon request. Alternative formats may also be available via www. srft.nhs.uk/for-patients/patient-leaflets/ If you need this information leaflet translated, please telephone: In accordance with the Equality Act we will make reasonable adjustments to enable individuals with disabilities to access this service. Please contact the service/clinic you are attending by phone or email prior to your appointment to discuss your requirements. Interpreters are available for both verbal and non-verbal (e.g. British Sign Language) languages, on request. Please contact the service/clinic you are visiting to request this. or Email: InterpretationandTrans@srft.nhs.uk Salford Royal operates a smoke-free policy. For advice on stopping smoking contact the Hospital Specialist Stop Smoking Service on 0161 206 1779 This is a teaching hospital which plays an important role in the training of future doctors. The part patients play in this process is essential to make sure that we produce the right quality doctors for all of our futures. If at any time you would prefer not to have students present please inform the doctor or nurses and this will not affect your care in anyway. Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust Stott Lane, Salford, Manchester, M6 8HD Telephone 0161 789 7373 www.srft.nhs.uk If you would like to become a Foundation Trust Member please visit: www.srft.nhs.uk/ for-members If you have any suggestions as to how this document could be improved in the future then please visit: http://www.srft.nhs.uk/ for-patients