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Oxygen Therapy Shows the Welsh NHS to Be World Class

Posted on: Monday, 30 January 2006, 12:00 CST

By BRIAN GIBBONS

February 1 sees the launch of a modernised home oxygen service for patients in Wales. This will be of great benefit to the thousands of people who depend on the service. Oxygen therapy services are vital in supporting adults and children with breathing difficulties including those with long-term medical conditions such as cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), heart disease and lung cancer. It can also play an important role in the discharge of premature babies. By being part of the home oxygen service patients can manage their condition which allows them to live a fuller life at home rather than in a hospital.

In June 2005 I announced that there would be changes to the way home oxygen would be provided. Since then the NHS has been preparing for the new system. The current system which sees pharmacists supplying oxygen cylinders and independent companies supplying oxygen contractors has hardly changed since the 1950s. Pharmacists have provided an excellent service over the past 50 years but we needed to look at new ways of delivering the service. Although pharmacists will no longer be involved in the provision of home oxygen services they will be developing exciting new roles to play in the delivery of a range of other services and advice to patients and the public. Following a competitive tender last year Air Products won the contract in Wales to supply the home oxygen therapy equipment which will include smaller, lightweight cylinders and more efficient oxygen concentrators. As well as providing the equipment they will also provide 24-hour support in the use of the equipment. The new contract means that the home oxygen service is available from one single provider, rather than the current fragmented service. For the first time, the latest oxygen technologies, including new portable equipment, will be available on the NHS giving people more freedom and independence. They can even continue to have their oxygen supplied as part of the free service when they are on holiday within the UK. Breathing difficulties are distressful for patients. The new service will ensure that patients have more choice and access to the latest equipment that meets their individual oxygen needs to help improve their quality of life.

I want the new service to give patients the confidence and support to manage their symptoms at home. Providing services for patients at home fits with our 10-year strategy Designed for Life which aims to treat people at the right place at the right time. The improved home oxygen service will help this happen.

Blaenau Gwent is an area with one of the highest incidence of lung disease in Wales. The Local Health Board is making major changes to the way in which people in Blaenau Gwent who have respiratory disease receive services. I recently visited the new respiratory clinic based at the modernised Outpatient Department at Blaina Hospital which is a central part of the changes.

During the visit I spoke to Respiratory Nurse Specialist, Natalie James and Audrey Roberts, the clinical lead for the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease homecare scheme who explained how the scheme had made a difference to patients - and made their jobs easier.

The two patients I met at Blaina Hospital, who had both benefited from the scheme, also spoke of the huge impact the scheme had made to their everyday lives.

The Respiratory Team at the hospital has already identified 400 patients who are receiving oxygen therapy and haven't had a specialist assessment. These patients are all now being assessed by the team to make sure that they receive the best treatment for them. This is giving patients access to the latest equipment that meets their individual oxygen needs to help improve their quality of life.

The service in Blaenau Gwent is putting the needs of patients first which is crucial to the provision of first class services. With the new oxygen contract starting this week the needs of individual patients will be matched with locally provided services ensuring world class services are available to patients wherever they live.: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:Q There are a number of small things that really annoy me about my wife - all to do with how she looks, but they are adding up and making me unhappy. She never believes me when she asks how she looks and I say she looks very nice. She then spends longer changing before we go out - and I do not like to be late. Why does she not believe me or trust me?

A Silly man, you have got your wires crossed. You are telling me how great she looks now and you are telling her she looks 'nice'. Tell her how you feel. Tell her to go change as she looks too sexy and you feel jealous that other men will be looking at her too much. Trust me, she will be running out of the door and you will be on time. For husbands and wives that do get annoyed by each other's habits there is a simple Thought Field Therapy sequence that can be used to bring back calm into the relationship. If you want to feel the magic again and the excitement of when you first met then try hypnosis as it can help remind you of the feelings that you had for each other at the beginning of the relationship.

Q I hate my body, I am too fat, I can't seem to lose weight or exercise enough and then I get depressed and want to eat more. I am nearly always on a diet and feel so fed up. This happens every year and I seem to be going round in circles. What can I do?

A Simple, forget the diet. Eat less unhealthy food, eat more good quality food and move more. Shop locally and support your local butcher, greengrocer, deli and fishmonger if you are lucky enough to have one nearby. Walk to the shops more often. If you go to a supermarket have a list prepared and only buy what is on the list. Better still shop with a friend and swap the list before you, you will be less likely to impulse buy. Short of time? Remember that healthy food can be prepared very quickly. Have a look at my website as there are some easy tips for anyone to follow. Still having a problem? Thought Field Therapy is great for getting rid of negative thoughts about yourself and hypnosis wonderful for helping you to feel encouraged, empowered and confident to get the body shape that you desire. Hypnosis can even help you to feel like moving and exercise more. If you have a question for Gillian, e-mail madeleine.brindley@ wme.co.uk

Source: Western Mail

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