By Sean Hamilton

SUFFERERS OF respiratory illness in Dundee are being held prisoner in their own homes by a dearth of portable oxygen cylinders.

Robert Bisset a 69-year-old emphysema sufferer who uses a wheelchair, contacted The Courier to bring to light his concerns about the current lack of cylinder provision.

Mr Bisset’s condition requires him to be on oxygen 24 hours a day.

Until three weeks ago, he had no problems collecting fresh supplies of the portable cylinder from his pharmacy.

“I’ve been told by my doctor to keep active and get myself out and about as that’s good for my condition,” Mr Bisset said.

“Up until three weeks ago I’d had no problems whatsoever, but all of a sudden I was being told there were no small cylinders available.”

Supplies of oxygen in large 10kg cylinders have been maintained, but their weight makes them extremely difficult to handle.

“If I want to go out now, I have to hold on to one of the large cylinders between my legs in my chair.

“It’s uncomfortable for both myself and my wife, who has to push all that extra weight around. It’s not just me this is affecting either. There’ll be countless others in my position.

“We’ve really been given the run-around trying to find out what’s been going on.

“At one stage I was given the phone number for an executive of one of the companies involved, who I contacted only to be told that I shouldn’t have his number.”

NHS Tayside yesterday blamed the shortage of cylinders on a change in supplier. The authority’s community pharmacy contract manager Ken Penman said their previous supplier, Air Products Ltd, had been replaced by BOC Ltd.

Mr Penman said, “During the past few months, although oxygen supplies have been maintained, some turbulence around oxygen cylinder sizes has been experienced —resulting in patients taking delivery of cylinders heavier than they would normally have been supplied.

“Community pharmacies in Tayside have been encouraged to assist one another in supplying oxygen during this transitional period, which they have been doing. It is understood from BOC that any supply issues should be corrected by the end of this month.”