Terminally-ill man says oxygen firm is forcing him into debt

5:30am Wednesday 22nd November 2006

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A TERMINALLY-ILL Southampton man is being driven into debt because he can't afford to pay for the electricity that keeps him alive.

Housebound Robert Fenton, pictured, needs to breathe from a respirator for at least 15 hours a day to stay alive. Under a contract with the NHS, oxygen suppliers Allied Respiratory should pay for all the electricity used by the machine, about £425 a year.

“I am not going to pay for my own death.”

Robert Fenton

However, since February Mr Fenton has received only £31 from the company, throwing the 55-year-old into hundreds of pounds of debt.

Mr Fenton, who suffers from terminal emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), says unless the company pays up he will be forced to an early death.

Out of breath A former Southampton dock worker, Mr Fenton's problems began five years ago after contracting tuberculosis. From then on it was a downward slope which has "destroyed" his lungs. "Now I can't leave the house or walk anywhere, and I get out of breath just making a cup of tea," he explained.

"On top of it all I am having to pay for the bills out of my disability allowance, which is a problem because after rent goes out I'm skint."

Allied Respiratory took over the supply of respirators to NHS patients in the south-east in February of this year. A letter from the company to Mr Fenton states: "Patients are entitled to be refunded for the electricity that their concentrator machines consume. We calculate the amount to refund based on meter readings which are taken when the machine is serviced by our engineer, which is every six months."

However, no engineer has visited Mr Fenton's home in Portswood Road, and only two payments have been made to him - one for £6 and another for £25.

"The situation is ridiculous," he said. "I have been told by the company that I am only using the respirator for two hours a day. I only wish that were true - but if it was I would be dead.

"I am prescribed at least 15 hours a day but sometimes I need it for the whole 24 hours.

"Allied are putting themselves above the word of a consultant - it's complete corporate arrogance. It seems to me they are hoping I will die before they have to pay the bill."

Mr Fenton's monthly electricity bills have nearly doubled from £29 to £48. He added: "I am not going to pay for my own death."

A spokesman from Allied Respiratory said: "We are obviously very concerned to hear of Mr Fenton's electricity problems and are currently investigating the issues he has raised with our finance team.

The rebates are calculated based on the electricity readings taken from the concentrator machine, which is in line with all other suppliers who are managing the National Home Oxygen contract.

"We will be in touch with Mr Fenton once the investigation is complete."