End of Day Adjournment Debate On The Use Of Personal Oxygen On Public Transport

17/03/2010

PHA-UK PRESS OFFICE: 020 7272 3915/07711 181 374 media@phassociation.uk.com
PHA-UK MEDIA CONTACTS: PAUL PENNINGTON/ELIZABETH HINCHEY/BERNADETTE MOORE

WHAT:   ‘End of Day Adjournment Debate On The Use Of Personal Oxygen On Public Transport ’
WHEN:   17TH OF MARCH 2010 http://services.parliament.uk/calendar/
WHERE: HOUSE OF COMMONS MAIN CHAMBER
WHO:      NICK AINGER, MP & PULMONARY HYPERTENSION ASSOCIATION UK (PHA-UK) TRUSTEE

WHY:      Speaking ahead of today’s important adjournment debate Nick Ainger MP & PHA-UK (Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK) Trustee told  ePolitix,   “Access to transport for people with disabilities has improved, but huge barriers are still in place for people who need supplementary oxygen.

Many people with breathing difficulties need either cylinders of oxygen or electronic oxygen concentrators to achieve even limited mobility.  The oxygen is as essential to them as a wheelchair.  However, while a wheelchair user rightly expects carriers to accommodate them without argument, oxygen users face infuriating customer service, huge extra charges and can even be refused access altogether.

Flying proves particularly difficult, and expensive, for many.  A “secret shopper” **survey of 67 airlines carried out by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK, of which I am a Trustee, showed that two thirds refuse to allow patients to bring their own oxygen on board.

Scandalously, most then charge patients hundreds of pounds to supply them with oxygen directly from the plane. Charges start at around £50, but can run into thousands - Alitalia make patients pay the price of a second seat for the oxygen they supply. 

Poor customer service is also a big problem.  Customer service agents often don’t know the airline’s policy on oxygen, or in some cases refuse to reveal it until passengers have bought tickets, even though in many cases, passengers cannot get refunds if they need to cancel because the oxygen they are offered turns out to be too expensive.

Shockingly, airlines still reserve the right to turn oxygen users away even after they have followed all the rules and paid their fee. One passenger who had liaised in advance with Ryanair, and paid her £100 for their oxygen, was allowed to board the plane before being thrown off and left standing on the tarmac after the captain and flight crew exercised their discretion and refused to let her fly.

Some airlines are changing their policies in the face of complaints from passengers – Thompson dropped charges for oxygen in September of last year, and I welcome that move. Airlines like British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Virgin Atlantic have already scrapped charges for providing oxygen, as have budget airlines Easyjet and Thomson's.  If those airlines can provide this service for free, so can others. However, too many airlines are refusing to back down.

Airlines are not the only offenders.  A Stagecoach bus in Burnley told a mother that the oxygen her son relies on was a “hazardous product”, despite Department for Transport guidance stating that “there should not be a problem in carrying oxygen cylinders” on non-smoking buses.

Other passengers have been detained at the Eurostar terminal or refused entry to the London Underground on “safety grounds”, although there is no evidence that oxygen poses any risk.

That is not acceptable.  We need to raise awareness and improve understanding until buses, trains and planes stop refusing patients the freedom to travel.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:
Full details of the ‘Secret Shopper’ research, part of the Pulmonary Hypertension Associations UK's 'Breathe Freely' campaign are available at www.phassociation.uk.com/breathefreely and must be credited to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK (PHA-UK).

NICK AINGER MP & PHA-UK TRUSTEE IS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT, AS ARE CASE STUDIES OF SUPPLEMENTARY OXYGEN DEPENDANT TRAVELLERS: CONTACT THE PHA-UK PRESS OFFICE FOR MORE DETAILS.

NICK AINGER’S OFFICE 0207 219 2241 www.nickainger.co.uk

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK (PHA-UK) charity number 1120756 www.phassociation.uk.com provides support, understanding, and information for everyone whose life is touched by Pulmonary Hypertension (PH).

The PHA-UK ‘Breathe Freely’ report and the wider campaign to bring down the barriers facing oxygen dependent passengers are endorsed and supported by the British Lung Foundation.