Dr Thomas Crowhurst

Home oxygen therapy

Some patients with significant lung disease benefit from supplemental oxygen to improve symptoms and / or survival. Careful assessment is required in order to determine whether additional oxygen is likely to be beneficial.

It is not uncommon for patients to have severe breathlessness but not meet the criteria for the provision of supplemental oxygen; this can be frustrating for both patients and clinicians. It is important to recognise that many of the symptoms from lung disease relate to disordered pulmonary mechanics and / or airway inflammation, among other factors, rather than from low oxygen levels. It may be that treatments other than supplemental oxygen might provide greater benefits in your individual case; these issues are inherently complex, and Dr Crowhurst will be able to explain them in detail after a thorough assessment of your respiratory condition.

Supplemental oxygen can be prescribed for use on exertion or for continuous use, depending on the needs of the patient. Oxygen can be supplied from compressed gas cylinders or concentrators. Concentrators use electricity to deliver additional oxygen. Large concentrators can be obtained for use in the domestic environment, while small battery-powered portable versions exist for short-term use outside. Electricity subsidies can be available to assist with the cost of powering the large concentrators for home use.

Government funding

Funding for the provision of supplemental oxygen is provided by the State Government. Criteria differ between states. Given additional oxygen accelerates combustion of all substances, it is imperative that patients receiving supplemental oxygen do not smoke and that they do not live with others who smoke indoors; there are strict criteria that govern access to government funding for supplemental oxygen, and some patients may be required to undertake tests to confirm they no longer smoke prior to the provision of supplemental oxygen. It is also noted that the small battery-powered portable concentrators are typically not covered through the government-subsidised supplemental oxygen programs, meaning these either need to be purchased privately or compressed gas cylinders used instead.

Assessment

Dr Crowhurst will carefully assess your lung condition and, if he suspects you may benefit from supplemental oxygen, he will arrange the necessary testing to further assess this. Evaluation usually involves two separate six-minute walk tests (the first breathing normal room air and the second breathing supplemental oxygen) and / or an arterial blood gas test, which involves taking blood from the radial artery in the wrist with a small needle. If you meet the criteria for supplemental oxygen and wish to have access to this therapy, then Dr Crowhurst will arrange this for you. A small number of patients who do not meet the criteria for the government-subsided program elect to purchase their own supplemental oxygen; Dr Crowhurst can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this with you, if relevant.