Products & Services
Medical gases
Medical gases are medication, and are subject to the market authorization procedures issued by the healthcare authorities.
They are also subject to specific pharmaceutical traceability and are delivered under specific transport conditions, by personnel trained in handling such products. Our commitment to compliance with the strictest safety and quality standards is reflected in our products and services.
We hold nine product licenses and all our licensed products are manufactured in line with the British or European Pharmacopoeia specifications. Our supply of medical gases in cylinders is fully compliant with the relevant sections of HTM 02-01.
We supply all the principal medical gases used in hospitals. All these gases are classified as Medicinal Products (as described in the Medicines Act 1968) and are classed as drugs;
Medical Oxygen - Sustains life and is used in emergency, operating and resuscitation rooms and to provide respiratory assistance
Medical Carbon Dioxide - Is used in operating theatres for insufflation, in dermatology, blood analyses and can be used with Medical Air or other mixtures to test respiratory functions and as dry ice for sample transport
Medical Helium - Is used for medical imaging and when mixed with Oxygen assists with severe respiratory obstruction, used as a carrier gas in analytical applications and in hyperbaric decompression chambers
Medical Air - Is used to provide respiratory assistance, drive suction venturis and for cleaning surgical tools
Medical Nitrous Oxide - Is primarily used as an inhalant anaesthetic and analgesic agent in combination with Oxygen or anaesthetic agents
Equanox (50% Nitrous Oxide / 50% Oxygen) - Also known as gas and air, is mainly used as short term pain relief.
Cylinder Tracking
Air Liquide offers Assettrac, our cylinder tracking system, to enable you to track your medical gas cylinders and control your stock balances.
Air Liquide’s Assettrac Cylinder Tracking System can track cylinders within a hospital environment externally or internally.
External tracking (simple tracking in and out) enables us to detect if a cylinder was collected from a different drop point than the one it was delivered to. With this information the cylinder stock can be reconciled ensuring that stock balances and invoices are correct.
The internal tracking function allows you to manage the circulation of cylinders within your premises using additional hardware and detailed training. With access to detailed web software you can then see where specific cylinders are and effectively monitor and manage your medical gas stock.
Risk Assessments
Every employer has a duty to effectively assess and minimise risk in the workplace and in order to help you, we offer risk assessments to identify potential hazards in the areas of your site that use and store medical gas cylinders.
A risk assessment of your gas storage areas will identify potential hazards, encourage a safer working environment and give guidelines for best practice when using medical gas cylinders.
With a nominated member of staff, we assess your gas storage areas and identify potential hazards. Notes and photographic evidence are taken during the assessment for reference.
After the assessment, we rate the severity and likelihood of the hazards individually by using a matrix system. We then discuss current control measures and help you to formulate an action plan to eliminate these hazards.
Training Packages
To help ensure that your staff receives the relevant training and that their competencies are maintained at a high level, Air Liquide Medical have created specialist training programmes.
Medical Gases are medicines which should be prescribed and administered by trained and competent individuals. Hazards can arise from incorrect handling and storage of Medical Gases, thus, training of staff involved in cylinder management is essential.
The courses are modular to allow flexibility, with learning tailored to the needs of the audience and includes presentations, team-based workshops and knowledge reviews to test competency.
The courses we offer are:
OptimAL Basic Medical Gas Safety Training - This course gives an overview of Medical Gases and covers general guidance of their everyday use.
OptimAL Medical Gas Safety Training for Trainers - This half day course (three hours) provides guidance in the safe handling, storage and use of gas cylinders within your hospital. This course is for individuals at a managerial or supervisory level e.g. Ward Managers, existing Nurse Trainers, Senior Theatre Nurses, Portering or Estates Supervisors or those who work in a direct management role in relation to the Medical Gases cylinders e.g. Pharmacy Porters/Technicians who control ordering and Medical Physics staff
OptimAL Equanox Training - This course is designed specifically for individuals at managerial or supervisory level who have experience of the use of Equanox and the clinical management of patients. The course encourages a great deal of discussion regarding current working practices and Health and Safety management in the delegates working environment. This approach has been excellent in spreading ‘best-practice’
E-Learning – a comprehensive web based learning packages for health care professionals. Easy to access covering a broad range of guidance and advice on the safe use of Medical Gases.
Cylinder Transportation & Storage Accessories
We offer a comprehensive range of safe, efficient and cost effective cylinder trolleys, racks, gas cages and accessories to safely transport and store your cylinders.
Our cylinder trolleys, racking systems and accessories range ensures you are compliant with Manual Handling Operations Regulation 1992, (amended 2002) which maintains the safety of your employees by reducing manual handling injuries as well as increasing operator time efficiency by reducing manual handling and handling distances.
We offer robust and range of durable single or double cylinder trolleys, ensuring a long term investment, to fit all cylinder sizes, as well as bespoke racking systems, cylinder wall brackets/holders and trolley chains.
Gas Store Solutions
Air Liquide offer a comprehensive bespoke design, supply and installation service for your medical gas storage areas, to help you manage and secure your cylinders safely.
Air Liquide cylinder storage range provide the following benefits;
Storage solutions are available for all cylinder sizes ensuring your gas store is organised, promoting safer cylinder handling.
Bespoke on site design and advice service ensures proposals offer optimum layout, products and prices to suit your individual requirements.
Robust and durable designs made of mild steel ensure a long term investment and expoxy powder coated paint increases durability
Medical Gas Delivery and Control Equipment
We offer a range of Medical Gas Delivery and Control Equipment to suit all your Medical Gas cylinders, including Regulators, Flowmeters and Piped Manifold systems.
To discuss your Medical Gas Delivery and Control Equipment requirements please contact our Customer Services department.
Devices and Accessories
We offer a range of Medical Gas Devices and Accessories to suit all your Medical Gas cylinders, including Regulators, Flowmeters and Piped Manifold systems.
To discuss your Medical Gas Devices and Accessories requirements please contact our Customer Services department.
Special Gases
Specialty Gases - High quality products, enhancing our customer’s application performance & efficiency.
Our Specialty Gases and Equipment product offers span a number of applications used in: Laboratories & Analysis, Universities, through to Research & Development. Air Liquide offers a wide range of products designed for your analysis and an expertise to deliver on-demand mixtures.
Total Gas Management Service
When you buy medical gases from Air Liquide, you can also benefit from Air Liquide’s innovative Total Gas Management (TGM) service.
Air Liquide will supply a trained on-site medical gases technician dedicated to managing and optimising your hospital’s entire medical gas cylinder inventory.
TGM Service is tailored to meet your needs and includes:
- Order-taking from departments
- Invoice management to minimise paperwork
- Change-out of cylinders on manifolds
- Delivering of cylinders to the points of use
- Conducting physical inventories
- Ensuring continuity of supply
- Inventory optimisation
- Departmental billing
- Benefits to you our customer:
- Improved patient experience
- Major reduction in lost cylinders charges
- Reduced cylinder inventory – lower rental charges
- Improved service - the right cylinder where you need it
- Improved safety - no more empty or expired cylinders delivered to the patient
- Problems and emergency cylinder availability solved smoothly and immediately by your onsite Air Liquide technician
- Regulatory compliance for entire cylinder inventory
Please contact our customer services hotline for further information
Telephone: 0800 637737, please select option 3 & then option 1 for Customer Service assistance
Email: custsvs.aluk@airliquide.com
Air Liquide Limited
Station Road
Coleshill
West Midlands
B46 1JY