Our history

Having been supplying oxygen services for over 13 years in the UK, Air Products Healthcare has an in-depth, expert understanding of oxygen therapy. Today Air Products Healthcare is the UK’s largest provider of NHS Home Oxygen Services, providing the service to more than 25,000 patients across England and Wales.

Air Products Healthcare has a long record of innovation and development, and is fully committed to ensuring that home oxygen therapy maximises each patient’s quality of life. Here are some examples of that track record:

1994 – Air Products Healthcare introduces the Liquid Oxygen service to Cornwall using state of the art technology. The purpose of the trial, in partnership with the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, was to demonstrate the benefits of a longer lasting ambulatory oxygen device to the patients’ quality of life.

1996 – Air Products Healthcare, having recognised that some patients found it difficult to change the regulator valve on their oxygen cylinder, achieved acceptance of the integral valve cylinder from the Medical Devices Authority and introduced this new technology on the NHS. This innovation had the added benefits of making the process of maintaining home oxygen cylinders a great deal safer as well as easier for the patient.

1997 – Air Products Healthcare introduces the Managed Cylinder Service to Somerset and Cornwall. This service meant that Air Products’ fully trained oxygen cylinder homecare service engineers were delivering directly to the patient.

1998 – The guard around the integral valve on the B10 (F size) cylinder was re-designed following concerns raised by patients suffering arthritis that they found the manipulation of the on/off valve and flow control difficult. As a result Air Products Healthcare re-designed the cylinder guard and asked the patients who had expressed difficulties to assist in this design.

1999 – Air Products Healthcare introduces the first high-pressure, integrated portable cylinder available to patients in the UK. This need was first recognised by homecare service engineers in the field who had noted concerns from patients that the portable oxygen cylinders available to them at that time were too heavy and did not last for a practicably long period of time. As a result, scores of Air Products oxygen patients have discovered a newfound freedom and quality of life, and have been able to enjoy pastimes and activities that their illness had previously prevented.

2000 – The PA2 carrying bag is introduced after patients raised the fact that they found it difficult to carry this new cylinder around the shops etc.

2001 – Air Products Healthcare introduces the very low flow integrated regulator on the PA2 cylinder for use by infants.

2004 – Air Products Healthcare begins the field trial of the new 300 bar portable oxygen cylinder. Weighing just 3.4kg when full, this is to be the longest lasting portable cylinder available to patients in the UK.

2004 – Air Products Healthcare’s design team who were responsible for the introduction of the integrated valve and the high-pressure portable cylinder is awarded the Queens Award for Innovation for the integrated cylinder

2004 - Air Products Healthcare holds the inaugural Patient Forum followed by a further 11 around the country.

2006 – Air Products Healthcare becomes the provider of the Home Oxygen Service in regions across England and Wales. This fully integrated service allows Air Products Healthcare to supply, install and monitor a Home Oxygen Service to patients in their region.

2007 – Air Products Healthcare holds 20 Patient Forums across England and Wales.