Dad age 86 private elective hip replacement

105 replies

Apple04 · 15/10/2026 12:20

My Dad has been a very active man his entire life but his arthritis has got significantly worse over the last year. He has been on an NHS waiting list for 6 months for the assessment appointment and it would likely be another few months wait for the procedure. He has decided to go privately and they have offered him a slot in 3 weeks. He is desperate to get it done. I’m really concerned about the aftercare. As it’s private I suspect they won’t provide it the way the NHS does? This hasn’t been discussed with him. He lives with my mum who also has mobility issues. There house has bedrooms upstairs. I’m an hour away with a full time job and young child. Can anyone provide advice on care in the private sector?

OP posts:

Original poster

Apple04 · 19/10/2026 11:50

OP again. I’ve just spoken to my Dad. He has decided on an extended stay in hospital and respite care. Thanks everyone.

OP posts:

Allseeingallknowing · 19/10/2026 13:12

LarsPorsenaofClusium · 18/10/2026 20:25

I moved my husband to the private wing of the NHS hospital after he had an emergency operation in the NHS wing. The NHS ward was chaotic, very noisy and under-staffed. In the private wing he had an en-suite room and if he rang the bell he was attended to straightaway. He was under the same consultant. Another plus was that the phone was answered promptly. Surprisingly the food in the private wing was nowhere near as good in the private wing. All in all I think your dad would do better going private especially given that you are not nearby. I'm not sure it’s relevant but we already had health insurance in place. I hope your dad does well whatever you decide.

That’s the ideal solution, but many don’t have private health insurance!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 19/10/2026 13:17

Apple04 · 19/10/2026 11:26

OP here. Some great advice here. Really appreciated. We are trying to convince him to go for respite care to the local nursing home. He is not keen on the idea but I’m hoping may come round after seeing the consultant again. The surgeon is discussing with the anaesthetist, the anaesthetic is a worry. My mum had a GA a few years ago at 81 and was very confused for weeks. Am I right in thinking that the hips can be done with a spinal block and sedation? Someone had posted about baseline fitness, my dad hurt his back recently and his hip has been worse since, mobility has suffered so sooner for the hip is probably better. He is very headstrong and has decided he is doing this. Just need to ensure we can cope with the care after.

DM(83) had sedation and a spinal.

PerspicaciaTick · 19/10/2026 13:17

My parents installed grab handles by the toilets and got a higher chair that was easier to stand out of. I'm not sure if that was recommended but it certainly helped.

thenightsky · 19/10/2026 14:29

Ive had a hip replacement and a knee replacement by spinal block and sedation. My first hip was done under a general and I was nauseous for days afterwards and kept fainting. Spinal all the way if I ever need my other knee doing. I was wide awake and eating lunch an hour after surgery.

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