AQW 51150/22-27
Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast
Tabled Date: 07/09/2026
Answered On Date: 27/09/2026
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any process which patients entitled to portable oxygen provided through the health service can order canisters to be delivered to their home.
Answer:
All patients will have been assessed by an authorised prescriber or an appropriately trained respiratory healthcare professional before being commenced on any oxygen therapy including portable oxygen. The operational process for obtaining portable oxygen thereafter will depend on the route through which the patient receives their oxygen supply. Patients will normally receive their oxygen provision through either the BOC service or the community pharmacy route, with ongoing supply managed through the relevant route as outlined below. BOC provides a range of products including oxygen and portable ambulatory cylinders and concentrator therapy to meet adult and paediatric needs. Any patients who are prescribed home oxygen via the BOC route, which has usually been prescribed by their secondary care healthcare professional, e.g. Trust respiratory nurse, will have all portable ambulatory cylinders delivered to their home address by BOC as per their order needs. Community pharmacies may also provide oxygen cylinders and portable ambulatory cylinders under the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations (NI) 1997, when prescribed by an appropriate healthcare professional e.g. GP. Any patients commenced on home portable oxygen therapy via this route can collect portable oxygen cylinders via their local community pharmacy or the pharmacy may offer a delivery service.
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