The NHS has secured two alternative providers of medical cement to prevent delays to patients’ surgeries amid a shortage of stock by its main supplier.
The NHS’s main provider of bone cement, Heraeus Medical, suffered a packaging fault last week, which temporarily halted production and caused an expected disruption to supply of two months.
It led experts to warn that a shortage could cause delays for hip and knee replacements and other pre-planned surgeries.
The NHS had estimated there were two weeks’ worth of supplies left, therefore leaving a supply gap of six to eight weeks, and urged trusts to review and prioritise waiting lists to maximise use of available stock.
The medical cement is used to anchor artificial joints and fill the space between the new joint and the patient’s bone.
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In light of the shortage, hospitals were asked to “prioritise patients with the most urgent clinical need”, the British Orthopaedic Association said.
But two “clinically assured” alternatives have now been sourced in a bid to avoid delays, according to NHS Supply Chain.
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An update on the NHS website said: “Two clinically assured alternative products have been identified as alternatives for high viscosity bone cement with gentamicin – Zimmer Biomet High Fatigue G and Johnson & Johnson CMW Smartset GHV Gentamicin.”
Professor Tim Briggs of NHS England told the BBC: “This shortage has been extremely concerning for patients and surgeons and we are delighted the NHS has now been able to secure this ‘rescue package’ of alternative bone cement to ensure trauma and elective care can continue across the country.”
