Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will guarantee that all people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are assessed for appropriate and personalised oxygen therapy after diagnosis.

Clinicians are responsible for prescribing home oxygen and robust oxygen assessment services are in place across the country.

In terms of personalisation, there is little specific evidence to suggest that prescribing of oxygen for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis should be any different from that of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other causes of respiratory failure. Oxygen therapy is the treatment for the lack of oxygen whatever the specific disease.

Commissioning of home oxygen services should be overseen by clinical commissioning groups except where an individual requires specialised services. In these circumstances, oxygen therapy is covered in the service specification for specialised commissioning of interstitial lung disease. Where oxygen is prescribed at home, NHS England would expect that training is given by the provider on the correct use of the equipment.

NHS England expects commissioners and providers to take account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on oxygen and rehabilitation in commissioning and providing these services. A NICE Quality Standard is also being developed in this area.

In addition, the British Thoracic Society (which is NICE accredited) is due to launch its home oxygen clinical guidelines in February 2015.