From syringes to stents: Iran war exposes NHS dependency on petrochemicals
spends £8bn a year on equipment and consumables, from latex gloves and paper towels to stents and prosthetic hips. Its bill for medicines was [£21.6bn in 2024-25](https://media.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/press-releases/a698a820-86c7-4ff9-aeb0-3f51452ddb2a/nhs-prescribing-costs-reach-21-6-billion-in-2024-25#:~:text=The%20data%20shows%20a%20continuation,drugs%20fund%20and%20routine%20commissioning.).
Temporary scarcity