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The NHS has announced that it has secured an alternative source of medical bone cement, allowing joint surgeries to proceed despite earlier supply issues. Recently, hospitals were instructed to delay certain treatments, including knee and hip replacements, after the health service’s primary supplier faced a significant production problem. At one point, the NHS reportedly had only a two-week supply of the crucial material, prioritizing emergency cases and the most urgent patients on waiting lists.
NHS England now anticipates that the shortage will be resolved following the acquisition of a new supplier and an increase in deliveries from an existing one. Professor Tim Briggs of NHS England commented on the situation: “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.”
The disruption originated when Heraeus Medical, responsible for approximately three-quarters of the NHS’s bone cement, had to temporarily suspend production at its main German facility due to a critical machine failure amid an upgrade process. This halt is expected to affect supply for around two months. Bone cement is vital for over a thousand operations weekly, including joint replacements and treatment for older patients with falls or hip fractures. Presently, about 850,000 patients in England await planned joint procedures, marking the largest waiting list within any medical specialty.
To address the shortfall, the NHS has obtained enough bone cement from the Dutch manufacturer Zimmer Biomet to cover the next 10 to 12 weeks, with initial shipments already delivered. Additionally, Johnson and Johnson, another NHS supplier, has agreed to boost its deliveries. These enhanced supplies will also support hospitals across other parts of the UK affected by the shortage. Fergal Monsell of the British Orthopaedic Association reassured patients, stating that the alternative bone cement has been in use since 2008 and has been thoroughly evaluated by surgical experts, confirming it matches the original product in chemical makeup and performance. Health minister Zubir Ahmed expressed satisfaction with the solution, highlighting the government’s commitment to reducing NHS waiting lists and emphasizing the importance of rescheduling postponed surgeries
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