Improving the safety of oxygen therapy in hospitals: summary of a safety report from the National Patient Safety Agency

Acute oxygen therapy: an audit of prescribing and delivery practices in a tertiary hospital in Perth, Western Australia

“…1,11 In 2010, the UK National Patient Safety Agency reported 281 serious incidents related to oxygen use over 5 years, including 9 deaths and 35 contributions to death. 11 Despite the importance of this topic, a review of literature demonstrates limited research on recent oxygen therapy practices in Australian tertiary hospitals. The aim of this audit is to create a snapshot of current practices within our institution to help guide future interventions and audits.…”

Avoidance of high concentration oxygen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…The UK National Patient Safety Agency has expressed concerns about inadequate oxygen prescription, administration and monitoring. 13 The use of oxygen should be limited to patients with hypoxaemia, and it should be titrated to relieve hypoxaemia and avoid hyperoxaemia. After more than 200 years of haphazard use it should be recognised that oxygen should be prescribed for defined indications in which its benefits outweigh its risks and that the patient's response must be monitored.…”

Implementation of a multicomponent intervention to optimise patient safety through improved oxygen prescription in a rural hospital

“…Oxygen is often given without any prescription, although guidelines recommend that oxygen should be prescribed specifying target saturation, device and an initial flow rate as a minimum . A target saturation of 94–98% is appropriate for most acutely unwell patients, while a lower target range of 88–92% is recommended for those at risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure (e.g.…”