Epidural Kit Shortage Could Last Until March, Regulator Says

A shortage of epidural kits successful nan UK is expected to past until astatine slightest March, nan government's medicines regulator has warned.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) told healthcare providers successful a diligent information alert earlier this period that nan shortage followed manufacturing issues concerning epidural bags.

Hospitals are being sent substitutes bags for nan symptom alleviation supplier fixed to women successful labour, while nan Royal College of Anaesthetists is moving pinch nan NHS to counsel hospitals connected really to negociate nan situation.

Medical unit person expressed interest astir these plans, nan BBC understands, though nan NHS said women "should travel guardant for attraction arsenic usual".

The shortage arose aft a awesome supplier stopped making epidural infusion bags, it is understood.

The MHRA alert connected 2 December said location was a "range of alternative" bags disposable during nan "affected period", which will require a "trust-wide attack to guarantee safe implementation".

Hospitals are being sent substitutes - but these person higher supplier doses and truthful request very observant managing.

All trusts person been asked to create teams that guarantee mother-and-baby safety.

But infirmary staff, pharmacists and anaesthetists - who administer epidurals to women during labour - person expressed concerns complete nan plans.

The caput of nan Birth Trauma Association, Dr Kim Thomas, based on that "there hasn't been capable communication" connected really to put together these teams.

"Leaving trusts to negociate a business for illustration this is very unfair, because you're going to get different responses successful different trusts," she explained.

"It's going to mean added accent and added activity for unit who are already overworked peculiarly astatine this clip of year."

An NHS spokesperson said: "The information of women successful nan attraction of NHS maternity services remains a apical priority."

They added: "There are a scope of alternatives disposable and trusts are besides sharing supplies pinch different adjacent trusts wherever appropriate."

Additional reporting by Hafsa Khalil