§ Mr. WilkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will amend the contractual procedures with equipment suppliers so as to bring forward the date when ambulatory oxygen administration systems can be made available to patients in the NHS; [1385641]
(2) when he expects that all patients in England and Wales who have a medical need for ambulatory oxygen administration systems will have them supplied under the NHS; [138565]
(3) by what date ambulatory oxygen administration systems will be made available to NHS patients; [138566]
(4) what assessment he has made of the number of patients in England and Wales in need of ambulatory oxygen administration systems. [138585]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonIn June, we announced plans to introduce a modernised, integrated, oxygen service. The new contract for oxygen services, currently being drawn up, will set out clear standards for the delivery of services to meet individual patient needs. Specialist hospital consultants will take on the responsibility for assessing and prescribing oxygen, including ambulatory oxygen, with service contractors required to provide the type of service needed.
We are working towards an operational date of 1 April 2005 for the new oxygen services contract. This is the earliest practical date, taking into account the need to minimise inconvenience to patients and to ensure fair and open competition for the new contract.
Details of the service specification for the new contract, currently being drawn up, will be available in early 2004.
Information on the numbers of patients who need ambulatory oxygen is not held centrally.