St Albans area - Hip replacement surgeon recommendations please

[Taprobane]

Hi, my mum - a now rather frail 82 year old - needs a hip replacement. She was seen by a consultant on the NHS who did nothing in the 5 minute consultation other than look meaningfully into her eyes and tell her that the NHS waiting list is 18-24 months currently for hip replacements but that he also practises privately. My mum came away from the appointment feeling that all he cared about was that she come to him privately.

My mum is now desperate for the hip replacement; she lives on her own and her life has been dramatically curtailed by covid and now the pain and immobility caused by her hip, so she is considering going private. However, she does not want to go to the consultant she saw as she didn't like his attitude.

I have looked at the Spires website (we're in St Albans) and see a long list of surgeons whose bio's say they specialise in hip replacements, but can anyone give us any recommendations please from personal experience ?

Or recommendations of hip surgeons who practise relatively near St Albans even if they're not at the Spires.

I don't want to encourage bad-mouthing, but if anyone has had a bad experience, maybe you could private message me with the name of the person you don't recommend.

Many thanks for any help given.

All of the surgeons will be technically competent. What’s probably more important aged 82 is the post-op rehab (+/- availability of pre-hab) and, depending on her medical co-morbidities, the availability of HDU/ ortho-geriatric support. While it’s great surgery when it goes well, a hip replacement is a major undertaking for a frail octogenarian and you need all the stages to go well, not just the surgery. HTH.

Thank you so much @Greybeardy ! This is really helpful in terms of giving us more idea of what to look for, what questions to ask etc when we're considering a surgeon and a hospital ! Very grateful ! Thank you !