Supply Issues Smiths Medical Epidural Kits Multiple Products (ICN 1637)

• The supplier Smiths Medical has informed us that the supply issue with Epidural Kits is ongoing.
• 10 additional product codes are now impacted by the supply issue.
• 10 product codes are available to order through our online catalogue but are subject to intermittent supply.
• Two product codes FYP001 and FYP029 are currently suspended and unavailable to order.
• 12 product codes are impacted in total.
• Potential indirect alternative products are available to order through our online catalogue for the affected products. However, some of these products may also become subject to intermittent supply with the increase in demand.
• For additional alternatives that are currently available in this product category, please review the ‘Additional Alternatives’ tab in the product listing.
• See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
• The resolution of the supply issue varies by product code. Improvements will be seen on some products from August, with full resolution expected by 30 September 2023.

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.

• The supplier Smiths Medical International Ltd has informed us that the supply issue with its Epidural Kits and NRFit Epidural Kits has improved.
• Four product codes are now available to order through our online catalogue – FYP023, FYP031, FYP016 and FYP020.
• Two product codes are affected in total:
  • FSQ240 – Epidural Kit
  • FYP029 – Epidural Kit.
• The affected product codes remain suspended and unavailable to order.
• 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 August 2023.

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.

• Due to the ongoing supply issue
  • FYP064 Combined Epidural and Spinal Kit, has been delisted from our catalogue and is unavailable to order.
  • FYP020 Epidural Kit, is now affected by this supply issue and is unavailable to order.
• A total of six product codes are now suspended and unavailable to order.
• Please see our Downloads ▼ section to refer to the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential indirect alternatives.
• 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.
• Customers are advised to log into our website to view the product codes currently subject to Control 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 supply issues from multiple suppliers with Epidural Kits and NRFit Epidural Kits has improved.
• 16 of the previously affected product codes are now available to order through our online catalogue, although they may be subject to intermittent supply.
• Five product codes are suspended and unavailable to order.
• One product code, FYP029 is now subject to Control Demand Management.
• Customers are advised to log into our website to view the product codes currently subject to Control 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.
• Please see our Downloads ▼ section to refer to the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential indirect alternatives.
• 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.

• FWC097 is no longer subject to Protect Demand Management and is available to order through the online catalogue.
• An additional product code has now been affected by the supply issue:
  • FYP064 – Combined Epidural and Spinal Kit 16g x 80mm (3.125 inch) Tuohy with Attachable Wings and 27G x 90mm Pencil Point needle CSEcure Locking set.
• There are currently 22 product codes affected.
• Four product codes are still suspended as they are subject to Control Demand Management. These are highlighted in amber on the product listing.
• 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.
• Please see our Downloads ▼ section to refer to the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential indirect alternatives.
• See our Useful Links section for further guidance from the Royal College of Anaesthetists.
• The anticipated resolution date is now the 28 February 2023.

• 11 of the previously affected product codes are now available to order.
  • FSQ225, FSR098, FYP009, FYP103, FSR097, FYP001, FYB091, FTR2378, FTR2414, FYB865, FWC192.
• One of the previously affected codes has been delisted from our online catalogue:
  • FYP039 – Epidural Kit 19G x 90mm (3.5 inch) Tuohy Minipack System 1 – with attachable wings 10ml LOR syringe 0.2micron epidural filter open end catheter and ID label.
• There are currently four products that are still suspended as they are subject to Control Demand Management. These are highlighted in amber on the product listing.
• 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.
• FWC097 is currently being threshold managed and is subject to Protect Demand Management.
• The product code remains available to order through NHS Supply Chain. However, trusts are allocated a maximum daily quantity “threshold” to ensure fair supply of available stock across the NHS.
• Please see our Downloads ▼ section for a full list of product codes subject to Protect Demand Management.
• The remaining four affected product codes are currently unavailable to order.
• Please see our Downloads ▼ section to refer to the product listing for further information on the affected product codes.
• See our Useful Links section for further guidance from the Royal College of Anaesthetists.
• The anticipated resolution date is now the end of December 2022.

• This ICN relates to 21 products.
• Four of the products are no longer under Control Demand Management.
• There are currently eight products that are still suspended as they are subject to Control Demand Management. These are highlighted in amber on the product listing.
• 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.
• Please see our Downloads ▼ section to refer to the product listing for further information on the affected product codes.
• See our Useful Links section for further guidance from the Royal College of Anaesthetists.
• The anticipated resolution date is the end of September.

• This ICN contains 21 products, 12 of which are suspended as they are subject to Control Demand Management. These are highlighted in amber on the product listing.
• 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.
• Please see our Downloads ▼ section to refer to the product listing for further information on the affected product codes.
• See our Useful Links section for further guidance from the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

• A further 17 products have been affected by this supply issue.
• These additional products are from multiple suppliers.
• Please see our Downloads ▼ section to refer to the product listing for further information on the affected product codes.

• Product codes FTR2378 and FTR2414 have been added to the product listing and placed on demand management.
• The product listing has been updated to now only highlight in amber which products are suspended and need to be requested via the webform.

• Due to the disruption in supply, all products (and alternative products) which are on the stocked route are currently under demand management.
• Four additional product codes are now affected. An additional epidural kit, FYB091, and three Loss of Resistance Syringes, FWC097, FYB865 and FWC192.
• There are 19 product codes affected in total.
• The product listing contains a RAG status that highlights which products are available to order.
  • Products which are available to order via our online catalogue are highlighted in green.
  • Products that are still suspended but can be ordered via the ICU webform are highlighted in yellow.
  • Products that are not currently available through NHS Supply Chain are highlighted in red.
• Should customers need to order the products that are demand managed, please see our Useful Links section and follow the link to access the ICU suspended products submission webform.
• Please note if purchasing either FYP017 or FYP004 as an indirect alternative these packs do not include a Loss of Resistance Syringe. If customers want to purchase either of these NPCs they will also need to purchase the Loss of Resistance Syringe separately.
• This issue has been escalated to be managed nationally by NHS England and Improvement and Department of Health and Social Care. Following further investigation and work with suppliers and clinicians, further information will be issued when available.
• The supply issue is now anticipated to be resolved by the end of August 2022.

• Due to the disruption in supply, these products (and alternative products) are currently under demand management.
• This issue has been escalated to be managed nationally by NHS England and Improvement and Department of Health and Social Care. Following further investigation and work with suppliers and clinicians, further information will be issued when available.

Change:

• The supplier Smiths Medical International Ltd has informed us of a supply issue with its Epidural Kits.
• There are 15 product codes affected.
• This supply issue is due to a supply constraint of the Portex® Loss of Resistance Device to a number of Portex® Epidural and Combined Epidural/Spinal products.
• For further information on this issue please see our Downloads ▼ section to view the customer letter.

Impact:        

• The affected product codes are currently intermittent supply only.
• Potential indirect alternative products are available to order through our online catalogue.
• Please see our Downloads ▼ section to refer to the product listing for further information on the affected product codes.
• The supply issue is anticipated to be resolved by the end of July 2022.

Next Steps:      

• Customers are advised to log into our website to view the potential indirect alternative products.
• 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.