Oxygen Suppliers

When i complained to the company that one cylinder was not enough and we had ordered liquid oxygen i was told there was a waiting list.   i got one more cylinder the following week and i did complain that 2 and a half hours a week was simply not enough.  the following week i got a carry bag which i could not use because i cant lift the weight.  2 weeks later i got a trolley and 6 cylinders.  the week after I got another 6 and the driver told me about a conserver that would make each cylinder go from the 2 and half hours to about 7 hours.  Why didnt they put this conserver on from the start.  then 3 months after the original request for liquid oxygen I got a call saying they would bring it round the following week.  I said about the waiting list and was told there was no waiting list and never had been.  ??? and now we are having problems getting oxygen for me for  holiday because apparently the company supplying my oxygen do not have a contract with the company in southern ireland so no supply for that country and yet if i wanted to go to any other member state country i would be able to be supplied.  Naturally i am thinking conspiracy theory.  Grr and I think i have enough to deal with without this hasstle.  So looks like I may not be able to go on holiday with the rest of my family, we cant change destination becasue we have relatives in southern ireland who want to see me and I want to see them too.

 

Sorry I said i was not going to bore you with my problems but hey my fingers just typed it all while i was watching tv. lol

 

sO i wondered as everyone above are not with Air Liquide

Im a newbie where oxygen is concerned. I managed to avoid it when I had PPH. But As some of you know I've had a pretty rough time since transplant. I'm supplied by Air flow, and they have been great. Ring up one day and suppies delivered next. Though after speaking to a very nice lady on the ward this week she had a very natty oxygen thingy, no bigger than a hand bag, though she said you can't get it on the nhs. She gave me the web sites and when home will look into it further. I've got what I think is a large nasel prong at the moment which is not the most comfortable of things. But at the end of the day it makes breathing much easier.  

 

 

Sounds as if you have been through the mill - poor you;  oxy cylinders are heavy, which is why I love my handbag.  Sounds as if you need to sort out your respiratory nurse or doctor as they are the ones who determine what oxy, if any, you should receive.  The Oxy company (and I have AL too)  follow the Home Oxygen Order Form (known as HOOF, which is in effect a prescription) that is sent to them and if that does not have additional cylinders on it, then you will not get them.

 

As for getting oxy in Ireland, that should be easy and AL should be able to put you in touch with whoever, but you may well have to pay for it.  As I understand it, apart from a couple of countries, oxy supplies are not free - be interesting if we could compile a list of countries where it is free or even what the costs are.  I know that if I wanted oxy in Greece, not only would it cost, but the service might turn out to be very unreliable .... told that by the UK end of the supply chain.

 

Good luck and hope you get to Ireland.

 

Sue

 

p.s. when I enquired about oxy in Greece, I phoned AL and they gave me the number of another company that deals with oxy overseas .... unfortunately once I found out that the supply might be unreliable, I chucked the details away.  sorry.

 

 

Nicky I have only ever had a large stem nasal cannula and I just cant stand being uncomfortable, this oxygen is for life and we should at least be comfortable.  I was told that the portable ones are 1 - 3 Litres on constant flow and 1- 6 Litres on pulse flow. 

 

I have looked at the portable concentrators and even looked on e-bay but the market is swamped by chinese market ones which dont seem that good and the uk ones are expensive.  My daughter is of the opinion as is my respiatory nurse that I should be able to get oxygen free.  However I can see that it would be more convenient.

 

Magnolia it was my respiratory nurse who tried to get me liqiud oxygen as she said it would be lighter than the cylinders but they took a month to arrive after she ordered them for me.  When I want anything i have to wait at least 3 working days and then I dont always get what is ordered and they have been told off on my behalf too. 

 

This holiday thing, instead of passing me on to the Irish supplier AL just simply said I would have to get back to my doctor to sort it as they dont have a contract with anyone in Ireland.  They didnt want to help me at all.  It really does sound as if they have a problem with me and I already have enough to deal with. 

 

I have just spoken to my gp about this and he is getting someone in the trust to do some investigating and to find out if it is a problem with me or if these guys are treating everyone like this.  Thing is so many people are too ill to be bothered to complain,  I am obviously not ill enough.

 

Also, I know that we are all lucky to be able to get oxygen like this and it is our life line,  also the medication we are getting is so expensive and I do appreciate what the health service have been doing for us all.  I am not a materialistic or greedy person but all I want is to be comfortable and to go on holiday.  Is that too much to ask