A packaging fault at Heraeus Medical has halted production of their bone cement products, leading to an expected minimum twomonth supply disruption. An incident team is in place, and we are working with Heraeus, alternative suppliers, DHSC, and NHS England to manage the issue nationally.
Update – 25 February 2026
• NHS Supply Chain has identified two clinically assured suitable alternatives that can be provided in the quantities and timeframe required to respond to this supply disruption for trusts.
• Both products are clinically assured alternatives to the Haraeus Palacos R+G high viscosity bone cement.
• The Zimmer Biomet Hi Fatigue G product is an ambient product so will be brought into stock and only madeavailable through NHS Supply Chain. Higher quantities of this stock are available.
• This can be ordered from today (25 February) through the NHS Supply Chain catalogue. The National Product Code is FQT85055. Please note the size of the packs is 1x40 compared to the Palacos product, which was 2x40, meaning trusts will need to order twice the amount to keep the same order level.
• From 10 March 2026, 2x40 packs of the Zimmer Biomet Hi Fatigue G can be ordered through the NPC FQT85054.
• The second product is Johnson & Johnson CMW Smartset GHV Gentamicin, which is an existing product available through the NHS Supply Chain catalogue. Additional quantities will be available to support customers who had previously ordered Heraeus’ products. As this is a cold chain product, it will continue to be delivered via the eDirect route.
• This stock will be available from early March and the ICN 3261 will be updated with an NPC when it can be ordered.
• All products will be demand managed by either NHS Supply Chain or individual suppliers to protect stock nationally, with priority given to trauma care requirements in line with NHS England pathway guidance.
• Bone cement products from suppliers other than Heraeus are available to order as normal, including Zimmer Biomet’s existing Refobacin R high viscosity bone cement.
Next steps
• Read the NHS Supply Chain customer briefing which sets out the products available and the way to order them, including demand capture and escalation processes. Please ensure you follow these processes.
• Read the series of information sheets to support clinical decision making over the use of the alternative products.
• Follow the national guidance issued by NHS England and the British Orthopaedic Association to support local decision making on stock availability and elective procedures.
• Check ICN 3261 regularly for further updates.
• If you have any questions, please speak to your customer service advisor or your ICS Manager for further support
All the above information can be seen in ICN 3261: Click here
Date: 25 February