Non-urgent heart procedures may be delayed following a shortage of a vital medical device. The Heart Foundation and the Dutch Society for Cardiology (NVVC) issued the warning following reports from the news programme Nieuwsuur. Emergency care for conditions such as heart attacks will continue at the thirty hospitals that provide these services.
The shortage was caused by a recall of components known as manifold blocks, produced by the supplier Medline. The recall was issued because small particles of the material could potentially break loose. These devices are used during cardiac catheterisations and angioplasty treatments. The NVVC has confirmed its support for the decision to recall the products.
The Heart Foundation and the NVVC stated that it is regrettable that patients may face longer waiting times for planned examinations or treatments. However, they emphasised that prioritising emergency care is necessary under the current circumstances. The manufacturer is currently working on a long-term solution.
Hospitals will contact patients directly if their scheduled appointments need to be postponed. According to the Healthcare Procurement Network Netherlands (Zorg Inkoop Netwerk Nederland), at least 25 hospitals have reported potential shortages. The network also noted that Medline is developing an interim solution to ensure that hospitals providing acute care have enough supplies to continue their work.
