Epidural kit shortage could last until March, regulator says
The government’s medicines regulator has warned that a shortage of epidural kits in the UK is expected to last until at least March.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) told healthcare providers in a patient safety alert earlier this month that the shortage was due to manufacturing issues with epidural bags.
Spare bags have been sent to hospitals to replace the painkillers given to women in labor, while the Royal College of Anaesthetists is working with the NHS to advise hospitals on how to manage the situation.
The BBC understands medical staff have raised concerns about the plans, but the NHS has said women “should come forward for care as usual”.
The shortage is understood to have occurred after a major supplier stopped producing epidural infusion bags.
The MHRA’s warning on 2 December stated that “a range of alternative” bags were available which would require “a trust-wide approach to ensure safe application” throughout the “affected period”.
Replacement drugs are sent to hospitals, but their drug doses are higher and therefore require very careful management.
All foundations were asked to form teams to ensure the safety of mothers and babies.
But hospital staff, pharmacists and anesthetists who administer epidurals to women during labor have raised concerns about the plans.
Dr Kim Thomas, president of the Birth Trauma Association, argued there was “not enough communication” about how these teams would be formed.
“It is very unfair to leave trusts to manage a situation like this because you will get different reactions from different trusts,” he explained.
“This will mean more stress and more work for staff who are already overworked, especially at this time of year.”
An NHS spokesman said: “The safety of women in the care of NHS maternity services remains a top priority.”
They added: “A range of alternatives are available and trusts also share materials with other nearby trusts where appropriate.”
Additional reporting by Hafsa Khalil
