The woman in charge of Newcastle 's hospitals has warned that global supply chain issues have led to shortages of vital medical kit including blood bottles, needles and syringes in recent weeks.
Dame Jackie Daniel, chief executive at the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, has explained that there were "multiple disruptions" at any one time when it came to key supplies - but that hospital procurement staff were working to shield patients from the impact of this. This comes as the NHS faces unprecedented backlogs in care and huge pressures on its workforce.
Writing online, Dame Jackie said: "I wanted to highlight another area which impacts us all and which has probably become more complicated and acute now than it was during the pandemic – and that’s the supply chain. Our procurement team have been working non-stop to source stock, liaising with suppliers, distributers, senior managers, senior clinicians and the inventory teams in the Trust to tackle the supply issues which are related to global distribution shortages and the impact of Brexit."
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Dame Jackie explained that "patient safety" and "continuity of service" were the two key priorities - and that the procurement staff had either managed to keep under pressure items available or find alternatives where necessary. The County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust also confirmed it had been affected.
Dame Jackie added: "Recent disruption has included blood bottles, tracheostomy tubes, needles, syringes and often it is multiple disruptions running at the same time, which change on a weekly basis. Patient safety and continuity of service is always top of the agenda for the team and they have successfully ensured products under constraint have remained in supply, or alternative products are secured, trialled and subsequently put into service.
"Unfortunately, this situation is likely to continue well into 2023 and possibly beyond. I have no doubt that our colleagues will continue to manage this extremely difficult and complex situation and ensure our patients and clinical colleagues are shielded as much as possible from these worldwide problems."
In a statement, a spokesperson for the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust said: "“Like other Trusts across the NHS, we have been experiencing disruption in supplies of some essential items. On occasion, our procurement team works with colleagues to source alternative produces, which meet all the required standards, ensuring our patients continue to receive safe, compassionate and joined up care."
This comes following a summer and autumn period where pressures on NHS blood supplies have also reached never-before seen levels. The coming winter is also expected to be hugely difficult for the health service.
Last month, in a briefing document, the NHS Confederation organisation and NHS Supply Chain said: "Significant global challenges to supply continue, including ongoing issues stemming from COVID-19, EU Exit and the conflict in Ukraine.
"The NHS has evolving service needs and requires continued support to deliver safe and excellent patient care. NHS Supply Chain – which manages the sourcing, delivery and supply of healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations – is working closely with the NHS and wider system to understand the impact of supply disruption and to work together to affect change."
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