A PATIENT with chronic breathing difficulties thought he was going to run out of oxygen canisters when new NHS arrangements plunged into chaos.

Idwal Williams, 63, spoke out as the private company brought in to supply direct to people's homes apologised for failing to deliver due to an "unexpectedly high volume of calls."

Mr Williams, of Newton Street, Darwen, who has an asbestos-related lung disease said: "I thought I was going to run out. I was getting very worried."

He had four days worth of oxygen when he called on Monday to ask for more from Air Products, a company which has a government contract to take over the service from chemists on February 1.

But he said it took two hours to get through and when he did was told to get the oxygen from a pharmacy, via his GP, which took until Thursday. He said: "If they knew this was happening then why didn't they have the people in place?"

Chemists are now having to share the huge demand with the firm, which has added five extra drivers to its North West fleet of 23.

But Azar Iqbal, pharmacist at Aston Pharmacy, Blackburn Road, Accrington, said: "We can't supply anyone until Tuesday when I get a delivery. I am not taking any prescriptions now because I am not certain until Tuesday."

Linda Davies, of Bailey & Garrett Chemists, Rosegrove Lane, Burnley, said: "The oxygen I have is just for my patients. It has been an absolute nightmare, a mess. If patients panic if they don't have any then their need for oxygen is going to go up."

Barry Pearson, who runs B Pearson chemists in Accrington Road, Burnley, said he received "conflicting messages" about how patients would get oxygen.

Surrey-based Air Products said it planned for 1,000 calls a day but was swamped with 12,500 on February 1 and 2.

A spokeswoman said it was always intended for pharmacies to provide some oxygen, until July. Lindsay Holden, prescrib-ing adviser at Blackburn with Darwen NHS Primary Care Trust, thanked chemists for providing oxygen.

Bridget Hilton, director of service provision for Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT said the firm had given assurances that "problems will be ironed out shortly."