Discharge from oxygen service

Introduction

When your child no longer needs oxygen, this is exciting but you may be nervous about what happens next and what your child can take part in. You can enjoy taking your child out and joining other parents and children for activities. If you’ve not done so before, you can take your baby swimming or to baby massage groups.

Infection

You cannot prevent your child from getting infections and it is good for them to start to build up their own immunity. You will want to limit their contact with people who have active colds but you can now attend baby groups and visit shopping centres.

Babies are usually most at risk the first two winters. As they grow, they will get stronger and build up their immunity. Yearly flu vaccinations for the family and child can help.

Flying

It is not advised that children fly within 6 months of stopping oxygen.

Between 6 months and 1 year after stopping oxygen, a fit to fly test is needed to see whether your child can cope with the reduced oxygen concentration in a plane. If this shows that oxygen is needed for the flight, you will need to arrange a supply. It doesn’t mean that your child needs to have oxygen again all the time, just for the flight.

You can speak to your consultant or the home oxygen nurse who can request a test if needed.

If your child has been off oxygen for a year then a fit to fly test is not needed.

Removal of equipment

We hope that the oxygen will not be needed again but, just in case, the equipment is left in the house for 3 months. If this is during the winter months, we usually leave it until spring. We will contact you to let you know that removal has been requested.

It is used to speed up discharge if your child gets a chest infection and is admitted to the hospital needing oxygen.

Appointments

You may have an appointment to see the respiratory consultant following stopping oxygen. If not, you will usually have appointments either with a neonatologist or paediatrician at your local hospital who will continue to review your child’s needs for as long as is needed.

You can contact the home oxygen nurses or the respiratory secretaries if you need some advice.