Early Informs
In response to customer feedback, we now provide ‘Early Informs’ to ensure we are giving you information about potential supply disruption as soon as we can.
There are three status options for ‘Early Informs’ as follows:
- In Progress – we don’t yet have enough information to publish an Important Customer Notice (ICN) or it could be that we don’t need one if the issue is resolved quickly.
- Moved to ICN – an ‘Early Inform’ that has now progressed to a full ICN about the supply issue.
- Resolved – an issue that we informed you about but was resolved quickly and did not require an ICN.
Customers are advised to regularly visit our ICN pages https://www.supplychain.nhs.uk/product-information/customer-notices/ for the latest published ICN updates.
In Progress
In all of these cases:
- We are working to collate all available information and assess any impact to NHS Supply Chain customers.
- Customers are reminded to order based on requirements, to support the entirety of the NHS having continuity of supply.
- If you have any immediate issues then please contact your Customer Relationship Manager or Customer Services Advisor.
Supply Issues Amity International Virusolve Wipes
ID: 2129
Date: 16 August 2023
- NHS Supply Chain has been advised by Amity that the supply issue with its Virusolve wipes range is ongoing.
- The product codes affected are:
FAL13167 – Sporicidal high level disinfectant and combined cleaner for endoscopes instruments and surfaces (pack of 200)
FAL13168 – Disinfectant wipes for surfaces (tub of 225)
FAL13169 – Disinfectant wipes for surfaces (pack of 200)
MFB343 – Sporicidal for high level disinfection. - These products are currently suspended and are unavailable to order. There are no alternative products currently available.
- An update from Amity is expected by mid-September on information relating to the cause and when they expect it to be resolved.
- A full ICN will be published once more information is available.
Supply Issues Simply Food Solutions – Direct Framework
ID: 2251
Date: 15 August 2023
- NHS Supply Chain has been made aware of supply issues with the Direct Framework from Simply Food.
- Due to a power failure on the National grid side of the Simply Food Solutions storage facility on Sunday 13 August 2023, no deliveries will be made of products held in stock, to any orders that have been placed to be fulfilled in the coming week and potentially beyond.
- Frozen product storage is being relocated and quality checks of food products will be carefully undertaken.
- Customers should look for short term alternative supply where required.
- We are working closely with Simply Foods to find out further information and will issue a full ICN as soon as we have more details.
Supply Issues Teleflex Medical Ligation Clips and Ligating Clips
ID: 2160
Date: 2 June 2023
- NHS Supply Chain has been informed of a supply issue with the supplier Teleflex, due to supply of resin used in the products. This has resulted in some products being suspended.
- Product codes affected:
FGE5599 – Horizon Titanium Ligating Clips
FFL120 – Ligation clip cartridge medium / large 6 clips per cartridge
FFL121 – Open ligation clips Small (30 cartridges of 6 clips). - Our Clinical Engagement Implementation Manager (CEIM) is in consultation with the supplier to identify suitable alternatives. We will update our website and our online catalogue as soon as possible with details of the alternative products.
- Limited information is available – NHS Supply Chain are working with the supplier to understand the reasons for the supply issue and to identify a resolution date.
- We will issue a full ICN as soon as we have further details.
Supply Issues Medtronic Limited Trocar Accessories – Endoclose
ID: 2159
Date: 2 June 2023
- Product code FGP197 is currently suspended due to supply issues.
- Alternatives are available on the catalogue:
FGE7159
FGE5421
FGE602
FGV1364. - Limited information is available – NHS Supply Chain are working with the supplier to understand the reasons for the supply issue and to identify a resolution date.
- We will issue a full ICN as soon as we have further details.
Moved to ICN
‘Early Informs’ in this section have now progressed to an ICN and can now be found in our ICNs section. Customers are advised to regularly visit our ICN pages https://www.supplychain.nhs.uk/product-information/customer-notices/
Supply Issues GBUK Healthcare Products – Affecting Blue Diamond or eDirect Orders
ID: 2274
Date: 13 September 2023
- NHS Supply Chain has been advised by GBUK that their ordering systems, shipping systems and operations will be unavailable and offline from Thursday 28 September to Monday 2 October 2023.
Delisting Molnlycke Health Care Foam Dressings
ID: 2244
Date: 10 August 2023
- NHS Supply Chain has been made aware that Molnlycke Health Care Ltd has taken the decision to phase out and discontinue its Mepilex Border and Mepilex Border Lite ranges. These will be replaced by the Mepilex Border Comfort and Mepilex Border Comfort Lite ranges.
Delisting Johnson & Johnson Sutures
ID: 2172
Date: 19 June 2023
- NHS Supply Chain has been made aware of Johnson & Johnson’s intention to delist a number of suture lines that will be replaced by their ‘Plus’ range. This follows guidance from NICE on the use of ‘Anti-Microbial’ sutures that can be seen at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/mtg59/
Supply Issue Medtronic Ltd Balloon Dissector FAL057
ID: 2107
Date: 24 April 2023
- NHS Supply Chain has been made aware of a potential supply issue affecting Medtronic Balloon Dissector extra view balloon oval pack of 5, FAL057.
Supply Issues Medtronic Limited GIA Stapling Products
ID: 2096
Date: 11 April 2023
- NHS Supply Chain has been made aware of a production issue with the following product codes:
FGS272 / GIA6038S
FGS273 / GIA6048S
FGS278 / GIA6025L
FGS274 / GIA8038S
FGS275 / GIA8048S.
Suction Catheters
ID: 2081
Date: 23 March 2023
- NHS Supply Chain has been made aware of supply issues with GBUK catheters due to a raw material shortage limiting supply across the range.
Syringes Needles and Associated Products – Polyflush Prefilled Syringes
ID: 2077
Date: 20 March 2023
- NHS Supply Chain has been made aware of a change to the label of these products:
Polyflush Prefilled Syringes – Sterile Content 3ml, 5ml, 10ml
FWC620, FWC640 and FWC658
Supply Issues Q Range of Disposable Infusion Pumps Avanos
ID: 2050
Date: 22 February 2023
- NHS Supply Chain has been made aware that Avanos are discontinuing manufacture of these products from June 2023.
Supply Issues Circular Stapling Range Johnson & Johnson
ID: 1982
Date: 10 January 2023
- NHS Supply Chain has been made aware of a potential problem with CDH circular staplers supplied by Johnson & Johnson.
Supply Issues Energy Devices (Laparoscopic) Johnson & Johnson
ID: 1976
Date: 9 January 2023
- The supplier Johnson & Johnson Limited has informed us of a supply issue with its Lot 2: Energy Devices product FGE9514 – Laparoscopic Energy Device HARMONIC 1100 SHEARS 36CM.
Supply Issues Infant Feeding and Associated Accessories
Medela UK Ltd
ID: 1844
Date: 25 October 2022
- NHS Supply Chain is aware of a backlog of orders and shipping delays following the implementation of a new ordering system by Medela UK Ltd.
Supply Issues Drapes
Medline and 3M
ID: 1523
Date: 25 January 2022
- NHS Supply Chain is aware of an issue with drapes supplied by Medline and 3M.
Resolved
These ‘Early Informs’ are resolved and therefore do not require the publication of an ICN. They previously appeared in our ‘In Progress’ section.
Resolved: Supply Issues Becton Dickinson UK Ltd Syringes, Needles and Associated Products
ID: 2144
Date: 23 May 2023
- NHS Supply Chain is experiencing a short term supply issue due to a change in delivery lead times from Becton Dickinson.
- The product codes affected are
FWC021 Hypodermic Syringe 20ml Luer Slip Eccentric Clear plunger Sterile 300613
FWC035 Hypodermic Syringe 50ml Luer Slip 3 Piece Eccentric Clear Sterile 300866
FWC130 Prefilled Syringe Sterile Content 10ml Luer Lock 1 Piece Sterile Content Sterile 306575
FWC255 Hypodermic Syringe 10ml Luer Slip 3 Piece Concentric Clear Sterile 307736
FWC428 Hypodermic Syringe 10 Luer Lock 3 Piece Concentric Clear Sterile 305959
FWD018 Hypodermic Syringe 20ml Luer Lock 3 Piece Concentric Clear Sterile 300629. - These product codes will be subject to protect demand management whilst we recover from this issue.
- The expected resolution date is week commencing 5 June 2023.