My mother needs oxygen and I would like to take her away on holiday for a change of scene. Is this possible?

Before you arrange your holiday, it is important to speak to your doctor to make sure your mother is 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.

Arrangements for supplying your oxygen on holiday vary depending on where you live and where you are travelling. There is information below on

Oxygen supply for holidays in the UK
Oxygen supply for holidays abroad
Your holiday journey
Coming to the UK on holiday
Going on holiday in the UK
The way people have oxygen supplied at home in England and Wales changed in 2006. Arrangements between the 4 UK countries are still not fully finalised so it is possible things may change further.

At the moment arrangements for supplying your portable oxygen when on holiday varies depending on whether you live

In England or Wales
In Scotland or Northern Ireland
If 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 supply if you are going on holiday within England or Wales. Your local Primary Care Trust (PCT) or Health Board pays 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 which you can send to the local pharmacist.

If you have a portable oxygen 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 in the area where you are staying will cover the cost of supplying the oxygen.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland
If you want to holiday within Scotland or Northern Ireland, the local pharmacist where you are staying will be able to 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 your GP should contact the oxygen supplier for the area where you'll be staying to arrange your oxygen supply. 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.

Going on holiday abroad
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.

Getting to and from your holiday
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

Car
Ferry
Train
Plane
Travelling by car
If you regularly travel by car then you may not need to make special arrangements. But it is important to make sure 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 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
Obviously this 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
They 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.

Coming to the UK on holiday
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 more information about treatment for people coming to the UK from overseas in the coping with cancer section.

You can find more information about the supply of oxygen at home in a separate question and answer in this section. Also the NHS have a website Home oxygen supply which you may find useful.