Orthopaedics: Medical Equipment
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department will take to mitigate the risk of supply delays of bone cement, and other medical supplies.
Answered by Dr Zubir Ahmed
The Government has very well-established processes in place to help manage disruption to the supply of medical products when it occurs, always very seriously considering the needs of individual patients.
The Department’s National Supply Disruption Response acts as the single point of contact for the medical supply industry, and has been supporting the bone cement shortage since early February this year. Together with NHS England and NHS Supply Chain we have organised a formal coordinated national incident response, including daily meetings with operational colleagues, development of clinical guidance, and close engagement with suppliers, professional bodies, and the devolved administrations.
The incident management group was able to secure additional supplies from alternative, clinically assured suppliers, which are now being actively used. Elective orthopaedic activities have resumed.
These measures ensured that trauma and urgent care continued safely during the shortage, with orthopaedic waiting lists prioritised according to clinical needs.
The Department continues to hold regular discussions with NHS England on the supply position, operational impact, and alternative products, using well-established incident coordination arrangements.
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