The health of thousands of NHS patients could be at risk and one woman is reported to have died as a result of problems with the privatisation earlier this month of the NHS home oxygen supply service.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health (DoH) described as "a sad case" the death of Alice Broderick, 63, from Carlisle after reports that her oxygen delivery from one private provider came too late to help her overcome breathing difficulties at her home.
Mrs Broderick died last week, reportedly after waiting in vain for six hours for an emergency oxygen delivery. A supply was only delivered to her home after she had been rushed to hospital, where she later died.
The DoH admitted last night that the transfer to four private companies of the service which delivers supplies to patients' homes has resulted in a shortage of oxygen. Around 60,000 patients in the UK rely on deliveries of oxygen to their homes, which have been hit by the transfer of supplies to the new privately managed Home Oxygen Service at the start of this month.
The privatisation plan was announced last summer by health minister Jane Kennedy who said patients would enjoy "round the clock access to expert advice and support in making the best use of the latest equipment".
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