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Supply Issues ICU Medical (formerly Smiths Medical) Tracheostomy Tube Products (ICN 1757)

Important Customer Notice Update

Ref: 2022/1757 ICN Number: 1757
  • The supply issue with Tracheostomy Tube products from ICU Medical (formerly Smiths Medical) is improving.
  • Four product codes remain suspended and unavailable to order:
    • FDF10105, FDF10109, FDG096 and FDG097.
  • Four product codes are affected in total.
  • Potential direct and indirect alternative products are available to order through our online catalogue. However, some of these products may become subject to intermittent supply.
  • See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
  • Customers are advised to refer to ICN 1423 which highlights supply issues with Smiths Bivona Tubes including product code FDG1089 which was previously on this ICN.
  • If you have any further questions, please contact your local NHS Supply Chain Customer Services Advisor.
  • The supply issue is still anticipated to be resolved by 8 December 2023.
  • The supply issue with Tracheostomy Tube products from ICU Medical (formerly Smiths Medical) is continuing.
  • 17 product codes are currently in stock but subject to intermittent supply.
  • Five product codes are currently suspended and unavailable to order:
    • FDF10105, FDF10109, FDG096, FDG097 and FDG1089.
  • 22 products are affected in total.
  • Potential direct and indirect alternative products are available to order through our online catalogue. However, some of these products may also be subject to intermittent supply.
  • See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
  • Customers are advised to refer to ICN 1423 which highlights supply issues with Smiths Bivona tubes.
  • If you have any further questions, please contact your local NHS Supply Chain Customer Services Advisor.
  • The supply issue is now anticipated to be resolved by 8 December 2023.
  • The supplier ICU Medical (formerly Smiths Medical) has informed us that the supply issue is ongoing.
  • 22 product codes are now available to order.
  • 14 additional product codes are now affected.
  • 22 product codes remain affected in total.
  • All the affected product codes are currently suspended and unavailable to order.
  • Potential direct and indirect alternative products are available to order through our online catalogue. However, some of these products may also be subject to intermittent supply.
  • Customers are advised to refer to ICN 1423 which highlights supply issues with Smiths Bivona tubes.
  • If you have any further questions, please contact your local NHS Supply Chain Customer Services Advisor.
  • See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
  • The supply issue is anticipated to be resolved by 31 October 2023.
  • The supplier Atos Medical (formerly Kapitex Healthcare) has informed us that their supply issue has now ended:
    • FDH067 is available to order
    • FDH658 and FDH659 are now delisted and are no longer available to order however, there are potential alternatives.
  • The supplier ICU Medical (formerly Smiths Medical) has informed us that their supply issue is still ongoing:
    • 48 of the previously affected product codes are now available to order
    • 14 product codes are now delisted in total
    • Six are available while stock lasts.
  • A total of 50 products are still affected.
  • Potential indirect and direct alternative products for all products have been identified and are available to order through our online catalogue. However, some of these products may also become subject to intermittent supply with the increase in demand.
  • Customers are also advised to refer to ICN 1423 which highlights supply issues with Smiths Bivona tubes.
  • If you have any further questions, please contact your local NHS Supply Chain Customer Services Advisor.
  • See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
  • We will continue to review stock to minimise further disruption and will update this ICN as soon as we have further information
  • The supply issue is anticipated to be resolved by 31 August 2023.
  • The suppliers Smiths Medical and Kapitex Healthcare have informed us that the supply disruption is still ongoing.
  • 22 codes are now available to order.
  • 24 further product codes are now affected.
  • 46 product codes are now suspended.
  • A total of 94 product codes are now affected.
  • Due to this ongoing supply issue14 products are now being threshold managed and are subject to Protect Demand Management.
  • Protect Demand Management codes are 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.
  • See our Downloads ▼ section for a full list of product codes subject to Protect Demand Management.
  • If you have an urgent clinical need for any of the suspended codes, you need to complete and submit the Control Suspended Consumables Product Submission Webform. See our Useful Links section to access this web form.
  • The product matrix shows additional information around some products that may help identify alternatives and also includes Uniperc tracheostomy tubes, Inner cannulas and Kits, highlighted in amber. These product codes will not be available after 18 March 2023 or as stock is depleted.
  • See our Downloads section to access the product matrix for further information on the affected product codes and potential indirect alternatives.
  • 12 affected product codes do not have alternatives and work is ongoing to source suitable alternatives.
  • The supply disruption is anticipated to be resolved by 21 June 2023.
  • Customer are advised to refer to ICN 1423 which highlights supply issues with Smiths Bivona tubes.
  • The suppliers Smiths Medical and Kapitex Healthcare have informed us that the supply disruption is still ongoing.
  • Two further product codes are now affected, FDH067 and FDH318 and they are subject to Control Demand Management.
  • A total of 92 product codes are affected.
  • The matrix shows additional information around some products that may help identify alternatives.
  • If you have an urgent clinical need for any of the suspended codes, you need to complete and submit the Control Suspended Consumables Product Submission Webform. See our Useful Links section to access this web form.
  • See our Downloads section to access the product matrix for further information on the affected product codes and potential indirect alternatives.
  • Customers are advised to log into our website to view the product codes currently subject to Control Demand Management.
  • The suppliers Smiths Medical and Kapitex Healthcare have informed us that the supply disruption, impacting several PVC Tracheostomy Tube products has improved.
  • There will no longer be weekly updates on product availability.
  • The product listing will now only show products that are currently suspended in this product range and their alternatives.
  • There are currently 90 product codes affected.
  • See our Downloads section to access the product matrix for further information on the affected product codes and potential indirect alternatives.
  • The matrix shows additional information around some products that may help identify alternatives.
  • Smith Bivona products are not contained within this ICN and more information on this disruption can be found on ICN 1423.
  • The supply disruption is anticipated to be resolved by 31 August 2023.

 

Change:

  • The suppliers Smiths Medical and Kapitex Healthcare have informed us of a supply disruption, impacting several PVC tracheostomy tubes.
  • There are currently 156 product codes affected.
  • Smith Medical has supply issues due to raw materials shortages and production challenges, impacted by wider global supply chain issues. This issue impacts different brands within the tracheostomy tube range and this notification will be updated to reflect the changes.
  • Customers who use the Kapitex Healthcare products through the eDirect or Blue Diamond route; the lead time is currently extended to 45 days from 30 days. When placing orders, customers need to ensure this lead time is reflected in ordering requirements. Owing to the raw material shortages, this lead time may change. We are working closely with Kapitex Healthcare and will update this notification with key changes.
  • The tracheostomy tubes availability is a dynamic and changing position. To support customers with product availability, we have collated all the catalogue tracheostomy tubes into one Product Listing. The Product Listing shows:
    • If an item is available to order or if it has been suspended
    • If it has been suspended, whether this can be ordered through the ICU Consumables webform
    • The key features of the tracheostomy tubes, including the sizing (inner and outer dimensions, cuffed, uncuffed, subglottic etc.), an overview of the range and if the product is for adults or children.
  • This approach has been taken to allow customers and clinicians to see full availability and to be able to filter through the important features for requirements.
  • As inbound supply and customer demand will change regularly, NHS Supply Chain commits to updating the Product Listing each Monday. Please note, the product listing will contain the updated date and customers should refer to the website for the latest version.
  • In exceptional circumstances, NHS Supply Chain may need to action a suspension or status change in-between updates to the Product Listing. This change will be reflected in the online catalogue.

Impact:

  • Customers may not be able to order your usual products and some products may be unavailable. Alternative products or clinical adjustments may need to be made.
  • See our Downloads ▼ section to review the products available in the Product Listing. The status of items may change, owing to products being made available, or, changing demand. Customers are therefore encouraged to regularly review the product listing, which will be updated weekly.
  • The supply disruption is anticipated to be resolved in Autumn 2022.

Next Steps:

  • Customers can review product availability on the attached Product Listing. This will be updated each Monday.
  • The product listing details the features of the product, suspension status and if suspended, whether the product can be ordered through the webform.
  • If an item is available, it can be ordered through the catalogue. If the product you need to order is not available, then please seek an alternative product to meet your patient needs; the columns can be filtered to help ascertain the most suitable product.
  • NHS Supply Chain continues to work closely with suppliers and clinical teams to ensure we are making available all suitable products for you to order.
  • For this period of the supply disruption, we would ask customers to only order what is needed. Customers should also refrain from using the Kapitex or Smiths Medical products for training purposes.
  • If you have any further questions, please contact your local NHS Supply Chain Customer Relationship Manager or 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 organisation’s use of these products.

Downloads ▼

  • 1757 Multiple Suppliers Product Listing with Alternatives 24 November 2023

    An Excel file showing the product listing with alternatives for ICN 1757.
    Login to view the downloads
  • 1757 Smiths Medical Product Matrix 13 January 2023

    An Excel file showing the product matrix for ICN 1757.
  • 1757 Smiths Medical Instructions For Use 13 January 2023

    A PDF showing the instructions for use for ICN 1757.