The NHS has secured a \u201crescue package\u201d of bone cement to ensure thousands of hip and knee replacements can go ahead.<\/p>\n
Global supply problems have affected the NHS\u2019s main provider of the cement, used to anchor artificial joints and fill the space between the new joint and the bone.<\/p>\n
There were fears that operations could be delayed for two months<\/a> after Heraeus Medical, the NHS\u2019s main supplier based in Germany, reported a packaging fault and temporarily halted production at its main site.<\/p>\n However, the NHS said it has \u201cworked around the clock to procure around 35,000 units of an alternative cement product\u201d from Zimmer Biomet, a Dutch manufacturer, the equivalent of about ten to 12 weeks\u2019 supply.<\/p>\n The first stock arrived in the UK from the Netherlands on Tuesday, and NHS England has held briefings with orthopaedic specialists across the NHS to give an overview of the product and how it differs from the Heraeus Medical version.<\/p>\n Tim Briggs, the national director for clinical improvement and elective recovery at NHS England, said: \u201cThis shortage has been extremely concerning for patients and surgeons and we are delighted the NHS has now been able to secure this \u2018rescue package\u2019 of alternative bone cement to ensure trauma and elective care can continue across the country.<\/p>\n \u201cThese alternative products have been assured and endorsed by leading orthopaedic experts and will be available for local hospitals to order from tomorrow, ensuring thousands of operations can still go ahead. We\u2019d encourage all patients to please continue to come forward for appointments unless contacted otherwise.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile NHS teams have worked quickly to secure this vital replacement supply, some planned operations for patients have already had to be cancelled this week<\/a> to help protect life-saving trauma care and we will be in touch with those patients to reschedule as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n