Delisting 3M Bair Hugger Blanket Patient Warming Products (ICN 2245)

• The supplier 3M Bair Hugger has informed us of a discontinuation of six existing lines on their Blanket Patient Warming Products due to a Unit of Issue change is ongoing.
• These codes have been replaced with six new codes.
• The old product codes are no longer available to order from our online catalogue and they will be delisted within the coming days:
  • VCB024, VCB026, VCB754, VCB007, VCB010 and VCB069.
• New product codes VCB85052 and VCB85054 are available to order but are currently subject to Protect Demand Managed.
• More stock is arriving during the week commencing 11 September 2023 and Protect Demand Management will be removed.
• A new product code VCB85056 is also available to order and subject to Protect Demand Management.
• NHS Supply Chain is currently waiting on a confirmation update of further orders from 3M as to when the Protect Demand Management will be removed.
• A new product code VCB85053 will be available to order from 7 September 2023 and will be subject to Protect Demand Management.
• New product codes VCB085055 and VCB85051 are expected to be available around 30 September 2023.
• The table below shows the mappings of old to new codes:
  • Please note the Category Clinical team have also advised the following Indirect Alternatives for the two product codes that are not yet available.

• Customers are advised to do their own internal stock take before placing an order.
• Potential indirect alternative products are available to order through our online catalogue.
• Customers will need to log in to our website to view further details.
• See our Downloads section for further information on the affected product codes and the potential alternatives.
• If you have further questions, please contact your NHS Supply Chain Customer Services Advisor.
• We will update this ICN to confirm the availability dates of indirect alternatives to order and the removal of Protect Demand Management when we have more information.

• The supplier 3M Bair Hugger has informed us of a discontinuation of existing lines on their Blanket Warming Products due to a Unit of Issue change.
• There are six product codes affected.
• VCB007, VCB024 and VCB754 are now no longer available to order.
• Three product codes remain available while stocks last, once depleted the product codes will be delisted and no longer available to order:
  • VCB026, VCB010, VCB069.
• New direct alternatives with the new unit of issue are due to arrive, and we will update the product listing when they are available.
• Dates for the availability of the new direct alternatives are:
  • VCB85054 which is a direct alternative for VCB007 – week commencing 21 August 2023 and will be released once received.
  • VCB85056 which is a direct alternative for VCB069 – week commencing w/c 29 August 2023 and will be released once received.
  • VCB85051, VCB85052, VCB85053, and VCB85055 are expected early September 2023.
• Dates are to be confirmed.
• These products are now being threshold managed as they are subject to Protect Demand Management until sufficient stock for VCB85054 and VCB85056 has been built up. They are still available to order through NHS Supply Chain. However, trusts are allocated a maximum daily quantity aka “threshold” to ensure fair supply of available stock across the NHS.
• The table below details which product codes VCB85054 and VCB85056 can be used as an alternative.

• NHS Supply Chain is working with 3M Bair Hugger to place additional orders so that affected product codes can be removed from Protect Demand Management as soon as possible.
• Customers are advised to do their own internal stock take before placing an order.
• Potential indirect alternative products are available to order through our online catalogue.
• Customers will need to log in to our website to view further details.
• See our Downloads section for further information on the affected product codes and the potential alternatives.
• If you have further questions, please contact your NHS Supply Chain Customer Services Advisor.
• We will update this ICN to confirm the availability dates of indirect alternatives to order when we have more information.

• The supplier 3M Bair Hugger has informed us that the discontinuation of existing lines on their Blanket Warming products is ongoing.
• Six product codes remain available while stocks last, once depleted the product codes will be delisted and no longer available to order.
• Due to the unit of issue change, dates for the availability of new product codes with the new unit of change are listed below along with the new product code. Should these dates change, we will update this ICN.
  • Old code VCB007 – New code VCB85054 available 20 August 2023
  • Old code VCB010 – New code VCB85055 available 20 August 2023
  • Old code VCB024 – New code VCB85051 available 30 September 2023
  • Old code VCB026 – New code VCB85052 available 20 August 2023
  • Old code VCB069 – New code VCB85056 available 4 September 2023
  • Old code VCB754 – New code VCB85053 available 20 August 2023.
• Limited stock is still available for the old product codes however it is advised customers review their internal stock levels to ensure they only purchase what is required.
• See our Downloads ▼ section for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
• Although we do not currently have a resolution date for the supply issue, we will update the ICN as soon as we have further information.

Change:

• The supplier 3M Bair Hugger has informed us of a discontinuation of existing lines on their Blanket Warming Products.
• Six product codes are affected:
  • VCB007 – Blanket patient warming for use with hot air blower
  • VCB010 – Blanket patient warming for use with hot air blower
  • VCB024 – Blanket patient warming for use with hot air blower
  • VCB026 – Blanket patient warming for use with hot air blower
  • VCB069 – Blanket patient warming for use with hot air blower
  • VCB754 – Blanket patient warming for use with hot air blower.
• The supply issue is due to a change in pack size and new packaging.

Impact:

• All of the affected product codes are available while stocks last, once depleted the product codes will be delisted and no longer available to order.
• 3M have acknowledged the ongoing changes required to reduce its carbon footprint.
• Potential indirect alternative products are available to order through our online catalogue.
• See our Downloads ▼ section for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
• Although we do not currently have a resolution date for the supply issue, we will update the ICN as soon as we have further information.

Next Steps:

• Customers are advised to log into our website to view the product listing for further information on the affected product code and potential alternatives.
• If you have any further questions, please contact your local NHS Supply Chain Customer Services Advisor.

Please note that due to the clinical nature of these alternative products, we advise you to consult your own clinical experts to ensure suitability for your organisations use of these products.