The prescribing and follow-up of domiciliary oxygen--whose responsibility? A survey of prescribing from primary care.

Domiciliary oxygen is expensive and is frequently used outside the prescribing guidelines, which include the need for blood oxygen measures, a hospital-based facility. Ongoing prescriptions are generally provided by general practitioners (GPs). A survey in the north-east of England found that the origin of the initial prescription was often obscure and that there was no record of the responsible clinician or of structured follow-up for the majority of patients. Many patients received oxygen outside the prescribing guidelines. There is a need for better organised, conjoint follow-up of patients on domiciliary oxygen.