FAMILY doctors unable to obtain oxygen for their patients were advised last night to abandon the newly privatised supply service and revert to an old system to ensure that more lives were not put at risk.

The chaos surrounding the introduction of the new service, which has left thousands of people without life-saving treatment, forced officials yesterday to ask pharmacists to take back their patients for fear of a spiralling death toll.

Relatives of a woman in Lincolnshire said last night that her death had been a result of difficulties in obtaining her regular oxygen supply, while it has been suggested that a death in Wales was also hastened by supply problems.

The Times revealed yesterday how Alice Broderick, from Carlisle, died after waiting nine hours for an emergency oxygen delivery. Jane Kennedy, the Public Health Minister, refused to say last night whether she would resign if the delay was confirmed to have played a part in the death.

As the private companies responsible for the new service continued to struggle with demand, pharmacies throughout England and Wales were asked to restart their service.

Pharmacy leaders described the situation as shambolic and said that many chemists were now out of stock after the Government’s decision to end their £18 million contract. They said that the Government had ignored numerous warnings of the chaos that would ensue if the supply systems were suddenly switched, but had carried on regardless. They also questioned the decision to introduce the scheme during the winter months, when oxygen use was at its most intense.

Two of the four companies that signed contracts with the Department of Health last year have suffered severe supply problems after being inundated with requests. The NHS estimates that 60,000 people require oxygen at home for pulmonary, heart and cancer problems.

Last night patients still struggling to obtain oxygen were told that the problem could continue for as long as two months while the new system settles.

However, an official from the NHS’s Home Oxygen Therapy Service said that every strategic health authority in the country was contacted yesterday and had confirmed that pharmacy supplies could cope with demand. She said that the system was likely to be stretched only in remote areas.

The extent of the crisis, revealed by The Times yesterday, has caused problems for thousands of patients who have been unable to get mobile oxygen cylinders, which cost about £7.50. Some have been given £1,500 “concentrator” units instead, which they described as wholly impractical and an alarming waste of money and resources.

Ms Kennedy offered an assurance in the Commons just last month that the transition to the new system would be a success. The changeover was originally scheduled to take place last October, but was delayed by administrative issues.

In a written response to a parliamentary question from Steve Webb, the Liberal Democrat health spokesman, she said: “The new arrangements offer patients a wider range of modern equipment that will support them in the better management of their symptoms at home . . . The new arrangements will continue to ensure that patients receive a safe and efficient home oxygen service.”

Last night Ms Kennedy insisted that thousands of patients had been successfully transferred to the new system and those experiencing problems could use their GP and pharmacist as before.

Referring to Mrs Broderick’s case, she added: “I would certainly like to express my condolences to the family. I am working with departmental officials and with the suppliers and with the National Health Service to make sure that the service runs in the way that we intend.”

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