Health

Bone cement shortage likely to lead to joint surgery delays, NHS warns

February 19, 2026

The NHS is facing a significant disruption in joint surgeries due to a shortage of bone cement, primarily caused by a production halt from Heraeus Medical, the main supplier. This shortage is expected to delay surgeries, particularly for knee, hip, and shoulder replacements, as hospitals prioritize urgent cases over elective ones.

A surgeon wearing glasses and blue scrubs looks down at his hands as he operates on a patient

Credit: Co

Key Highlights

Heraeus Medical halted production, affecting bone cement supply for up to two months.
The company provides about 75% of the bone cement used in the NHS.
Over 1,000 operations weekly rely on this cement, mainly for knee replacements.
Hospitals are prioritizing emergency patients, especially older individuals with severe injuries.
Approximately 850,000 patients are currently waiting for surgeries.

Health UK news NHS

Sources

This quick summary is automatically generated using AI based on reports from multiple news sources. The content has not been reviewed or verified by humans. For complete details, accuracy, and context, please refer to the original published articles.

Bone cement shortage likely to lead to joint surgery delays, NHS warns

Key Highlights

Sources

Related Stories

Professor who reportedly paused UK puberty blockers trial recused over ‘bias’

A U.S. scholarship thrills a teacher in India. Then came the soul-crushing questions

Touch, sound and style: how London fashion week is opening up to visually impaired guests – photo essay