NHS joint ops disrupted amid bone cement supply problems

What’s Happening

Alright so Around 1,000 operations a week rely on the product as patients are warned delays are inevitable.

NHS joint ops disrupted amid bone cement supply problems 10 hours ago Save Nick Triggle Health correspondent Save A shortage in medical cement is likely to lead to delays in some patients getting joint surgery, NHS bosses say. It comes after Heraeus Medical, the main supplier of bone cement to the health service, has had to temporarily halt production at its main site affecting supply for up to two months. (we’re not making this up)

The German firm supplies about three-quarters of the bone cement needed in the NHS.

The Details

The product is used in more than 1,000 operations a week, mostly in knee replacements, but also in some hip and shoulder replacements. Hospitals are being told to prioritise emergency patients ahead of those on the waiting list.

These are likely to be older patients who have suffered falls and those with broken hips. Rn there are 850,000 patients on the waiting list in England requiring planned treatment to their joints – the largest of any speciality.

Why This Matters

Guidance from NHS England calls on hospitals to focus on providing care to those in the most pain or with the most complex conditions. Hospitals have about two weeks supply of bone cement in stock. NHS England and counterparts in the rest of the UK are seeking to increase supplies from four other manufacturers that supply the NHS.

Medical professionals are taking note of this development.

Key Takeaways

• Patients are being told to assume their appointments and treatments will go-ahead, unless they are told otherwise.
• “We urge hospitals to communicate quickly with those affected to avoid additional worry and uncertainty.

The Bottom Line

“We urge hospitals to communicate quickly with those affected to avoid additional worry and uncertainty. “Aside from the personal toll on people with arthritis, the stakes are high for government who have an uphill challenge to bring down waiting lists to meet ambitious targets.

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