A shortage in medical cement is likely to lead to delays in some patients getting joint surgery, NHS bosses say.
It comes after Heraeus Medical, the main supplier of bone cement to the health service, has had to temporarily halt production at its main site for two months.
The German firm supplies about three-quarters of the bone cement needed in the NHS. The product is used in about 1,000 operations a week, mostly in knee replacements, but also in some hip and shoulder replacements.
Hospitals are being told to prioritise emergency patients ahead of those on the waiting list. These are likely to be older patients who have suffered falls and those with broken hips.
Source: BBC News, 18 February 2026
Related reading
- A formal update on this from NHS England, with actions for NHS organisations, can be found here.
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