This is a global issue which is causing a stock shortage across the NHS. This is being managed nationally by NHS Supply Chain, NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care. We are expecting the shortage will be in effect for the next 6-8 weeks.
Bone cement is used mainly for hip and knee replacements but also for some shoulder and elbow replacements. Other orthopaedic procedures are unlikely to be affected.
Here in Leeds, alongside the rest of the NHS, we are having to take measures to preserve our current supply of bone cement to ensure the most urgent patients can still be cared for.
This means we are having to prioritise urgent and high-risk patients ahead of those who are at lower risk and urgency, and we will need to postpone some elective (planned) surgery to ensure we have enough stock over the coming weeks.
We are very sorry we are having to do this and we know the frustration this will cause patients who have already waited a long time for their surgery.
If you have planned orthopaedic surgery, you do not need to get in touch – we will contact you directly if we have to rearrange your surgery. If you do not hear from us, please assume your surgery is still going ahead.
We are doing everything we can to ensure safe and effective care is still provided whilst the shortage is ongoing. We are working with regional partners, looking at securing alternative providers, and exploring different products to minimise disruption as much as we can.
If you have any concerns about the impact on your care, please do get in touch with our PALS team.