The Oximetry@Home service is one of the many crucial services delivered by volunteers since the start of the pandemic. It was set up by West Lancs CCG and is co-ordinated by West Lancs CVS.

During the first year of the pandemic, West Lancs CVS took on the vital role of recruiting and co-ordinating volunteers to provide a local Medicines Delivery Service across the Borough. Following the success of this, CVS was asked by CCG during the winter of 2020-21, to support its Oximeter delivery service in the same way.

The COVID Oximetry@home service involves the remote monitoring of patients with coronavirus symptoms in their own homes. Patients use a pulse oximeter, a small monitor clipped to their finger, to measure their oxygen saturation levels three times a day, and the patient is monitored remotely by a nurse.

Jan Howard, CVS Volunteering Officer, who has been coordinating the service at CVS says:

‘When a patient is not able to collect an oximeter kit from their surgery, we arrange for a volunteer to deliver one to the patient instead. Over the last 18 months, we’ve recruited a dedicated group of volunteers and currently have 8 volunteers supporting us with the deliveries. We’re very grateful to the team who’ve worked so tirelessly – delivering a total of 280 oximeters to patients across West Lancs so far!’

Jane who is a local volunteer on the Oximeter service says: