The NHS has secured two alternative suppliers of medical cement, a move set to prevent delays for patients awaiting surgery. This crucial intervention follows global supply issues that impacted the health service's main provider of bone cement.
Bone cement is vital for anchoring artificial joints and filling the space between new implants and a patient's bone. Earlier this month, experts warned that a shortage could lead to significant postponements for hip and knee replacements and other pre-planned operations.
Officials had estimated a potential six to eight-week supply gap after Heraeus Medical, the NHS's primary German-based supplier, reported a packaging fault. The new agreements aim to avert this critical disruption.
The issue has temporarily halted production at its main site and will impact product availability for at least two months.
However, alternative products have now been sourced.
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.”
Tens of thousands of patients are given hip or knee replacements in England each year.
