Health boards in Wales have been told to prioritise urgent patients while the shortage continues
A shortage of a surgical material has resulted in operations being disrupted in Wales. A Welsh health board has said that the shortage is expected to cause “disruption” to those waiting for surgery and some replacement operations are being paused.
There is a global shortage of bone cement that is used in a wide range of emergency and planned orthopaedic surgical procedures including knee and hip replacements.
The shortage has been caused by a manufacturing issue at the production facility of one of the main suppliers of the surgical material which is causing delays across the UK.
Heraeus Medical, the main supplier of bone cement for the NHS, which is based in Germany, reported a packaging fault affecting its bone cement products. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has issued a statement regarding the shortages confirming that health boards in Wales have been told to “prioritise those patients who are in the most urgent need to ensure that emergency surgery can continue safely”.
This has meant that all planned (elective) joint replacement operations in Wales which require the use of cement are being paused temporarily.
The health board said: “There is currently a global shortage of bone cement affecting the NHS nationally following a manufacturing issue at the production facility of one of the main suppliers of the material.
“Bone cement is essential in a wide range of emergency and planned orthopaedic surgical procedures and as a result of this shortage, we are anticipating disruption to some planned joint replacement operations.
“Across Wales, we have been asked to prioritise those patients who are in the most urgent need to ensure that emergency surgery can continue safely.
“As a result, all planned (elective) joint replacement operations in Wales which require the use of cement are being paused temporarily.
“We will be contacting all patients whose procedures have been affected directly to explain the next steps.
“If you have not been contacted by the health board, please assume that your operation will be continuing as expected. Whilst this situation is beyond our control, we apologise for the inconvenience caused and are working hard to minimise the impact and return to normal service as soon as possible.”
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