Having oxygen on holiday
How can I take oxygen away on holiday?
There is information below about
Before you arrange your holiday, it is important to speak to your doctor to make sure you are fit enough to travel. You should do this well in advance of your trip. This will give you enough time to make any necessary arrangements. Planning ahead will help things go smoothly so that you can relax and enjoy your time on holiday.
At the moment arrangements for supplying your oxygen when on holiday varies depending on whether you live
In England or Wales
You need to ask the owner of where you are planning to stay for permission for oxygen to be delivered there. So contact them in the first instance. This is up to you to do, not your GP or specialist team. Next, ask your GP or specialist team to let the supply company know what you need. You need to give at least two weeks notice to make sure that all the arrangements can be made. The supply company will then deliver the oxygen and install any equipment you need.
Your usual oxygen supplier can deliver your oxygen if you are going on holiday within England or Wales. Your local Primary Care Trust (PCT) or Health Board pays for the oxygen.
If you live in England or Wales but are visiting Scotland or Northern Ireland, arrangements are a little different. If you use cylinders, the local community pharmacist in Scotland or Northern Ireland will supply your oxygen. You need to ask your GP for a prescription for what you need and send it to the local pharmacist.
If you have a concentrator your doctor needs to fill in a form and send or fax it to your supplier. Your supplier will send this to the Scottish Health Board or local Northern Ireland trust who will arrange your supply. Remember to allow plenty of time for these arrangements. The health departments of the area you are staying in will cover the cost of supplying the oxygen.
In Scotland or Northern Ireland
If you want to go on holiday in Scotland or Northern Ireland, the local pharmacist in the area can arrange your usual supply of oxygen. You need to arrange this through your GP at least a couple of weeks before you go away.
If you are visiting England or Wales, to arrange the oxygen supply your GP should contact the oxygen supplier in the area where you will stay. Your GP will give the supplier your details so that they can contact you. This will be either a prescription or a form. The Primary Care Trust or local Health Board in the area where you are staying will cover the cost.
You will need to make your own arrangements for the supply of oxygen if you go on holiday abroad. Although suppliers aren’t required to provide a service outside the UK, they may be able to help you arrange it privately. You’ll need to allow plenty of time to sort it all out. And again, you will need permission from your holiday accommodation owner for the delivery and installation of the equipment. You will have to pay for the supply of oxygen.
Before you arrange your holiday your doctor will need to write a letter saying that you are fit to travel. You will need to carry this letter with you.
If you are travelling in Europe, remember to take your European Health Insurance Card. And to arrange travel insurance. You can find more information about the EHIC card and travel insurance in the coping with cancer section.
You also need to think about the oxygen supply for your journey to and from your holiday destination. This depends on whether you are travelling by
Travelling by car
If you regularly travel by car you may not need to make special arrangements. But it is important to make sure that you are fully prepared, especially for a long journey. If you don’t normally travel by car you should check with your oxygen supplier about what you need, including any specialist equipment.
Travelling by ferry
Ferry companies vary in what they will help with. Contact them before you book to check exactly what they can do. Some are able to help with oxygen supply if they have enough notice. They may be able to get you on and off the ferry first, or have special parking places for people with disabilities.
Travelling by train
Plan your route in advance and contact the rail company you want to travel with. Let them know what you need and who will be travelling with you. They may then be able to offer help with your journey. This may vary between train operating companies.
Travelling by plane
Plane travel is more complicated and airline companies vary in what they can provide. You will need to contact the airline you want to travel with to check
- Their policy on taking oxygen on the plane including any costs
- Whether you need to complete a form or get a doctor’s certificate saying you are fit to fly
You may also need to ask them
- What support is available at the airport
- Who can help you with luggage and boarding the plane
- If they supply oxygen at the airport
The airline will need to know how much oxygen you usually need and whether you need it continuously or for short periods only. They’ll also want to know who will be travelling with you.
If you are visiting the UK from overseas you need to contact a local doctor, or the local Primary Care Trust where you’ll be staying, to ask about arranging oxygen. You may be able to become a temporary resident if you are staying somewhere for more than 24 hours but less than 3 months. This doesn’t automatically mean you have the right to free NHS treatment. There is information about treatment for people coming to the UK from overseas in the coping with cancer section.
You can find information about the supply of oxygen at home in a separate question and answer in this section. Also the NHS has a website about home oxygen service, which you may find useful.
Increase text
Decrease text
Print this page
