Holidays in the UK
The NHS says to talk to your oxygen supplier about delivering oxygen to your holiday destination, giving as much notice as possible. Air Liquide lists delivery to holiday and temporary-stay destinations within the UK as part of its service.
Holidays abroad
The NHS advises speaking to your local clinic as soon as possible if you’re planning a holiday abroad. You’ll also need travel insurance.
The key rules come from NHS Business Services Authority guidance, read 14 October 2026:
- A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers the provision of oxygen.
- You must use the authorised oxygen company for the country you’re visiting. To find it, contact that country’s health authority.
- You must arrange it before you travel. Your home supplier will usually not be able to provide oxygen for you abroad.
- Canary Islands: you need a minimum of 15 hours a day of prescribed oxygen to have treatment organised through the Spanish health authorities. Below that, you may be expected to pay privately.
A checklist
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| As soon as you plan the trip | Speak to your oxygen clinic about whether you’re fit to travel and what you’ll need |
| Before booking flights | Contact the airline. The CAA says oxygen cylinders are carried only with the airline’s prior agreement |
| Weeks ahead | Contact the destination country’s health authority to identify its authorised oxygen supplier, and arrange supply using your GHIC or EHIC |
| Before you go | Get travel insurance that covers your condition. Carry your prescription and a doctor’s letter |
| If you use a portable concentrator | Plan enough battery for the journey. The CAA says most airlines don’t provide aircraft power for passenger medical equipment |
Private alternatives
If you don’t qualify, for example under the Canary Islands 15-hour rule, you can pay a private oxygen provider at your destination. Or you can take a portable concentrator if your clinic agrees a pulse-dose setting suits you. See portable oxygen concentrators in the UK.
The verdict
For trips in the UK, your NHS supplier delivers. For trips abroad, start early. Your GHIC covers oxygen only through the destination’s authorised supplier, arranged before you leave, and the Canary Islands have a 15-hour minimum. Arrange flights and insurance separately.