G275(P) Home oxygen therapy: a drug like any other

Home oxygen services play a vital role in supporting children with breathing difficulties with a wide variety of underlying medical conditions, many of whom will wean out of oxygen over time. However, unlike other medical prescriptions which need to be reviewed 6 monthly, oxygen continues to be supplied until the prescriber requests in writing for it to be removed. Our aim was to review oxygen prescribed in OLCHC. Methods Air Liquide, the main supplier of oxygen services, provided a list of all children prescribed oxygen between 1/1/2010 and 31/1/2019 by OLCHC and who are currently supplied oxygen. Clinical records were reviewed for data. Results 82 patients were prescribed oxygen over 8 years and are living all over the Republic of Ireland. Almost half (43/82) were prescribed oxygen for respiratory causes. The other causes were congenital heart disease (n=13), Trisomy 21 (n=10) and other (n=16). The median age was 3 (range 0.1–20.3) years at time of oxygen prescription. The length of time on oxygen was 2.7 (range 0.1–9) years. The main prescribers were cardiology, neonates and respiratory. 56/82 children were reviewed in OLCHC within the last 12 months. Conclusion On review of the notes it can be difficult to assess if children are still using oxygen particularly when many are often followed up by several clinicians and/or multiple hospitals. A formal review process should be put in place for children on oxygen so it can be titrated appropriately and removed in a timely manner when no longer needed. Discussion Any patient newly prescribed home oxygen therapy will automatically require a 6 monthly prescription as per the standard operating procedure. Improve 6 monthly prescribing of oxygen for patients. Slow introduction of 6 monthly prescribing of home oxygen to return/existing patients.