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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect to be able to have a hip operation done on the NHS?

77 replies

girlfriend44 · 12/04/2023 22:23

Is anyone waiting or know anyone waiting for a hip replacement?
Hubby had one done a few years ago and we paid as the wait was so long on the NHS and he was in alot of discomfort!
Now he feels that the other one May need doing?

Is the Waiting list still long does anyone know?
Has anyone seen a private consultant and taken the report saying they need a hip op to the NHS and got it done quicker.
Although we would pay again if we had too, it seems wrong that you have too.

Any hints/tips thoughts on this?

OP posts:
Womble75 · 12/04/2023 22:33

I'm waiting for my second - been told 6-12 months wait or if I can shift another stone I can get it done privately through the NHS (same surgeon)
This is SE (Hants) my last one was initially a 6 month wait but moved to 12 months due to COVID.
I'm on his urgent list as it's massively deteriorating and I'm only in my 40's so not his usual clientele demographic.

Hoardasurass · 12/04/2023 22:36

Am in Scotland and the wait time for knee and/or hip replacement is 5-6 years right now I'm hoping to have my knee done in the next 3-4 years been waiting 18 months already. I don't know about England

Womble75 · 12/04/2023 22:36

To answer the second part of your question I don't think a report from a private consultant would get you up the list any quicker. You would still have to be referred and go through the process. Best to see the NHS consultant and see what they say - most of them practise privately but NHS have different criteria to follow. I saw my consultant (NHS) end Feb and was put straight on the list there and then.

Catsonskis · 12/04/2023 22:37

Waiting lists are the longest ever since covid sadly. In my area it’s not unusual to wait 9-12m +

get him to the gp and referred for review by the ortho team pronto, only once the orthopaedic surgeon has decided it needs doing will be get on the waiting list.

you could see a private consultant quicker probably than seeing them on the NHS, some are able to list you as an NHS patient either at the private hospital or in an NHS hospital, this might be quicker than the purely NHS route but it differs all over the country.

if you’re in an area with lots of elderly people requiring ortho surgery your wait will be longer for a hip op than if you live in inner city London or areas with younger demographic.

I would go to gp for referral and find out approximately how long the wait is for the out patient appt, then ring the hospital and ask how long the wait is generally from decision to treat to treatment. Then research local private hospitals to see if any do nhs work there, or any or ortho pods who are nhs employees but do private work too.

id also be prepared to be sent to see physios/mcas services before they even let you get near an orthpod as a first line of defence!

best of luck.

AWaferThinMint · 12/04/2023 22:39

I was just talking about this with my MIL tonight. Her brother was told
over a two year wait so ended up paying privately. She’s been told 18 months once she’s ready to go ahead. Bonkers.

Cherryana · 12/04/2023 23:00

I have done a mix - I had a private consultation, mri and x ray with a surgeon that was recommended to me.

I was then able to be referred on the NHS to same surgeon (I requested him) that I saw privately with no time wasted, waiting for a mri/X-ray on the NHS.

Wait time on the NHS with this surgeon is currently 14 months - so I am looking at next May. It’s 6 weeks with the same surgeon privately.

jamimmi · 12/04/2023 23:31

Waiting lists.are long. 12.months from going on the list here. But 12 weeks to get the initial appointment so 15 to 16 months in total. If.he is just thinking it may need doing perhaps it doesn't. Normally for.NHS there needs to be significant joint damage and deterioration.

Gigihadr · 12/04/2023 23:51

The waiting list is 1-2 years in my area. The current NHS is failing. My advice is go private

Nat6999 · 13/04/2023 02:32

Ask to go NHS Choose & Book to your nearest private hospital. My mum's friend only waited 3 months for her first one & then had her other one done 4 months later.

lateSeptember1964 · 13/04/2023 04:02

I work in the independent sector and we have a substantial NHS waitlist. We have just completed an NHS push to list 78 week waiters so on average you can probably now expect to wait 12 months via NHS.

even if you see your consultant privately you cannot then get pushed up an NHS list as you have to be rereferred through choose and book.

Original poster
girlfriend44 · 13/04/2023 11:07

Hoardasurass · 12/04/2023 22:36

Am in Scotland and the wait time for knee and/or hip replacement is 5-6 years right now I'm hoping to have my knee done in the next 3-4 years been waiting 18 months already. I don't know about England

Wow 5 years!!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
girlfriend44 · 24/04/2023 10:04

Weve been to the doctor and its over a year wait.

Its awful, what happens to people who cant afford the op. They wait in pain for a year, with a diminished quality of life. Why do the NHS accept part payments from people either.

You either get it done for free after a wait, or you pay all of it yourself?

OP posts:
angstridden2 · 24/04/2023 10:46

My elderly neighbour just paid to have it done privately, as she said ‘she had the money but I can’t replace my savings’. What about the younger patients who are unable to do physical work while waiting, what are they supposed to live on?

Willmafrockfit · 24/04/2023 10:57

30 years ago the waiting was 18 months.
it did get better
but obviously it is worse now.
get on the list

Sacmagique75 · 24/04/2023 11:11

They wait even longer because those who can afford it can pay to jump the queue

Willmafrockfit · 24/04/2023 11:19

rubbish, @Sacmagique75
the private operations take place on different days, at different places

stbrandonsboat · 24/04/2023 11:20

Perhaps look into going abroad? There are reputable clinics in Turkey and Eastern Europe and the costs are much lower than here. Obviously do your homework carefully, but don't be put off by the dodgy dentists in Turkey stories, there are some excellent clinics around.

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 24/04/2023 11:21

My dad has been waiting 18m for a hip replacement, it was booked in for the start of March, cancelled, rebooked for end of March, cancelled the night before and now rebooked for the end of July. He is struggling to walk and I am furious and so upset for him. It’s fucking shit

Sapphire387 · 24/04/2023 11:22

At the most basic level, yes, of course YANBU. We pay towards the NHS and people who need hip replacements should be able to access them within a reasonable time frame. It's disgusting that people cannot.

FrownedUpon · 24/04/2023 11:22

My MiL is waiting for an initial appt for her hip. She can hardly walk. Could anyone share how much a private hip replacement is likely to be?

Nordicrain · 24/04/2023 11:23

girlfriend44 · 24/04/2023 10:04

Weve been to the doctor and its over a year wait.

Its awful, what happens to people who cant afford the op. They wait in pain for a year, with a diminished quality of life. Why do the NHS accept part payments from people either.

You either get it done for free after a wait, or you pay all of it yourself?

Essentially yes.

You either wait in the queue or pay to skip it.

My FIL has been waiting 18 months for a new knee, had it booked and it was rescheduled due to the doctor's strike. Now he is waiting again. It's really getting him down and worsening his depression. He can't walk very far at all (meters rather the km) and it's not a good life. As they've told him he will be "called" in due course he is now refusing to leave home incase he misses the call, meaning he will not go to any of his usual activities, which wil no doubt make his MH much much worse. It's not great.

BranchGold · 24/04/2023 11:24

If you can go private, do so. I don’t think it’s right that you need to, but if he’s in pain then it should be a priority.

is he in the best possible health that he can be currently? While he’s on the waiting list. Carrying additional weight will be putting undue strain on an existing weakness and massively contributing to the pain he’s feeling. I’d make losing weight (if he is overweight) the number one goal.

3dogsandarabbit · 24/04/2023 11:44

girlfriend44 - Waiting lists for hip operations have always been long. I remember back in the 90s my dad was told there was a 2 year wait.

Original poster
girlfriend44 · 24/04/2023 11:47

ok, does anyone not think it would be good if they did a part payment thing?

You paid some towards it but not all?

OP posts:
IamtheDevilsAvocado · 24/04/2023 11:53

stbrandonsboat · 24/04/2023 11:20

Perhaps look into going abroad? There are reputable clinics in Turkey and Eastern Europe and the costs are much lower than here. Obviously do your homework carefully, but don't be put off by the dodgy dentists in Turkey stories, there are some excellent clinics around.

Seen lots of good outcomes from well reviewed private ortho hospitals in Lithuania