Bone cement supply issues

There is a global supply issue with bone cement used in joint surgery that is impacting some orthopaedic surgeries across the NHS. The main supplier of bone cement to the health service – Heraeus Medical – has had to temporarily stop production at its main site, affecting supply for up to two months.

The cement is used mostly in knee replacements, but also in some hip and shoulder replacements. All NHS hospitals have been asked to prioritise trauma and urgent care for people who have suffered broken joints until supplies return to normal.

While we will make every effort to minimise the impact, this may result in some planned joint replacements being postponed so we have enough cement available for emergencies. We will share further details about the impact this will have for our patients when we know more and will be writing to patients affected directly. 

FAQs

What is happening? 

Heraeus Medical, a manufacturer of bone cement used in medical procedures such as emergency surgery and routine hip and knee replacements experienced a fault at their factory.

As a result, there will be an ongoing global supply disruption for the next few weeks.

Why can't we use an alternative?

For some procedures, alternative products are available from other suppliers but they will not be able to produce enough stock to cover everything Heraeus Medical would usually provide.

What does this mean for appointments?

Due to the global supply disruption, NHS England, The Department of Health and Social Care and the National Orthopaedic Society have asked NHS Trusts to prioritise providing procedures to patients with the most urgent clinical need to ensure there is enough supply.

This may mean that some patients with less clinically urgent needs have their care postponed, but medical teams will do their best to keep disruption to a minimum.

Should I still attend my appointment?

It is important that you continue to attend all your appointments as normal unless told otherwise by your provider.

The NHS remains open and you should also continue to use the NHS as normal for any other care you need.

How will I know my appointment is affected?

Your care provider will contact you directly if your appointment is postponed. If you do not hear from them, please attend all your scheduled appointments as normal.

The NHS remains open and you should also continue to use the NHS as normal for any care you need.

Are private (non-NHS) medical providers also affected?

Yes. This is a global supply disruption and is impacting other organisations, not just the NHS.

What should I do?

If you have any concerns or questions about what this means for you or your care, you should contact your care provider. They will be able to advise you.

Charity campaign aims to give children a happier hospital experience

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity launches a brand-new ‘Do It for the Kids’ campaign to raise additional funds to give children across Dorset a happier hospital experience for generations to come.

With a fundraising target of £350,000, the campaign will support the new Children’s Health Unit opening in the BEACH Building at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital this summer.

Every year, 30,000 children and young people need hospital care and at the heart of the campaign is patient feedback. After months of listening to the experience of patients and families, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity has been working with the Child Health team to identify what makes meaningful differences for young patients

Every donation will go towards making the hospital less daunting for children up to the age of 18 and creating spaces for families to be together. This includes fundraising items that are beyond NHS funds, like artwork, additional play areas, technology, sensory trolleys and much more.

Jessica Tyler, Fundraising Manager from University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity said: “We’re so lucky to have the new Children’s Unit here in Bournemouth. The 'Do It for the Kids' campaign is all about funding enhancements which are shaped by the voices of children, young people and their families. We're working hard to make moments in hospital brighter, creating an experience that feels supportive and comforting."

Rob Emery, from Poole, knows firsthand just how much those extras above and beyond NHS funding matter. Rob and his wife, Chantel, have ten-year-old triplets who live with profound cerebral palsy, epilepsy and global delay, which require regular hospital care.

Rob said: “I cannot fault the medical teams and am so grateful for their support. However, I can’t say enough, what a difference it will make to have private spaces or additional sensory equipment for families like us who have complex disabilities and healthcare needs.

“These items will particularly help patients who are non-verbal to regulate their emotions during long waiting times, for example. The extra items like this may seem small, but speaking for families in the local community, I can share just how much this could ease the experience for people who care for children with additional needs, especially during what can already be extra challenging times. Hospital visits can’t always be avoided, but if we can make them more manageable for patients, it can only be a good thing.”

Kate Hibberd, another parent from Poole, also said: “Just last month, my six-year-old daughter, Meredith, came to the end of her chemotherapy treatment. We cannot support this initiative enough because, as a mum, it brings me great comfort to know that the vision for the enhanced Children’s Unit is based on the experience of people like Meredith, who can be a part of the step-change to give children a happier hospital experience.

“Meredith’s mission to tackle her cancer was to bring some colour and fun to every chemotherapy treatment by dressing up as anything from dinosaurs to Pokémon characters. Learning from Meredith, the hospital doesn’t have to be something children fear!”

Do It for the Kids is part of the ongoing BEACH Appeal, which was launched in April 2024 to transform the care for everybody in Dorset who depends on the hospital services for Births, Emergency care, Critical Care and Children’s Health.

Every child and young person deserves a happier hospital experience. Help fund those special touches that will make a big difference in their little lives by supporting the Do It for the Kids campaign: www.UHDcharity.org/kids

Children invited to trial new asthma inhaler 

University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) is looking for children aged 6 to 11 years old with asthma to test a new inhaler that could improve control and help reduce attacks.

Asthma is a condition that causes breathing difficulties due to swelling of tubes in the lungs. Children with asthma may cough or wheeze, and some children and young people with asthma continue to suffer frequent attacks, despite the usually effective therapies available.

Asthma symptoms and attacks are normally treated with two inhalers, where one briefly opens the airways, and the other prevents another attack. The combination inhaler contains both a long-lasting reliever and preventer steroid medicine, which aims to relieve immediate symptoms and deal with underlying inflammation.

The Child Health Research Team at Poole Hospital

Francesca Diaz, UHD Child Health Research Nurse, said: “The combo inhaler has been shown to work well in older children and adults. However, this treatment option is not currently available to children under 12 due to insufficient existing clinical trial data. In this study, we will compare the effectiveness, safety and cost effectiveness of the combo inhaler compared to current treatments, and we have had positive feedback from children currently on the trial.”

After an initial screening visit via phone, children will be randomly assigned to two groups; the ‘Intervention’ (change to the combo inhaler), or ‘Control’ (use their current inhaler(s)

Children and parents will then be invited to attend four visits in total over 12 months. The first and last (at one year), visits will be in person at Poole Hospital’s Children’s Outpatient Department.  Follow-up visits are at four and eight months, which can be done over the phone.

If you’re interested in finding out more about this study, funded by the National Institute for Health and care Research (NIHR), email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.careukstudy.uk/

The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.   We do this by:

• funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care
• investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services
• partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research
• attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges
• collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system
• funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries

 The NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. The NIHR Global Health Research portfolio supports high-quality applied health research for the direct and primary benefit of people in LMICs, using international development funding from the UK Government.

Information for parents 

In summer  2026, the Children’s Unit at Poole Hospital will relocate to the BEACH (Births, Emergencies and critical care, And Child Heath) Building at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH), along with other major services including the Emergency Department.

The new Children’s Unit at RBH will comprise of the Children’s Assessment Unit and Children’s Day Care Unit, featuring family-centred inpatient wards and high dependency specialist areas in a purpose built, state-of-the-art space.

The Children’s Outpatients Department will remain at Poole, and there will continue to be an Urgent Treatment Centre on site. It is expected that dual outpatient services will eventually operate at both Poole and RBH, ensuring care remains local and accessible for the community.

For more information about UHD’s transformation plans, part of a £500m investement in local health services, head here: Transforming Care Together

Nominations open for our Patient Choice Award at University Hospitals Dorset