Knee replacement - no physio provided after surgery??

[Everythingisnumbersnow]

A family member just paid 20k for a knee replacement (the NHS waiting list is 4 years where they live in Scotland so it was that or life unable to walk and probably a premature death). On discharge they've just been told no physio is provided as part of aftercare! I had read physio needed to start on day 1 after discharge for the operation to be successful. I'm pretty horrified by this. You can ask for an NHS referral but it takes about a month.

Thinking about our godawful healthcare system makes me feel on the verge of a panic attack.

Sorry my question is - does anyone have experience of similar and what did you do (and why didn't the fecking private provider mention before discharge!!!!!)

I suppose you have to source your own physio. I would imagine that the person was discharged only after proving they can take steps and get up and down a set of (three or four) stairs. Well at least that's what my DP had to do when he had a private knee replacement (in EU not UK).

He was told on discharge to book physio, which he did and had four sessions which he paid for, then did the "walking in the swimming pool" exercises which were free to do by himself in the local pool. He didn't start physio until day 5 or 6, but walked around the house and up and down the garden in the meantime.

So no, follow up physio does not seem to be included in the joint replacement surgery recovery in a private hospital. Unless you book and pay them for it separately it seems. DP has private health insurance so everything was covered, but he had to pay up front for the physio and claim it back.

See your gp?

Definitely is included when you have knee or hip surgery in England, thankfully our local health trust lets you book with a private hospital and they pay, waiting lists are a few weeks max

Book a private physio appointment asap.

And see your GP to get NHS but don't wait for it, early days physio is really, really key for a successful outcome.

This is something I have some awareness of. Private patients cannot be referred for NHS post op physio.

Post-op physio is very important for a successful TKR. Part of the Pre-op assessment for PPs should include an explanation of this so that private physio can be arranged.

Are you quite sure your relative wasn’t told this?

In lots of places you can self refer to see an NHS physio.

Everything is chargeable when you go private so I would guess that the follow up with the consultant was included in the price but not the physio since that is with another department. I'm not surprised by this,
Its normal.

She'll get physio, she just needs to pay for it. If was included it would have been stated in the paperwork.

Yes they will need to pay for some private physio sessions (circa £100 per session? See if they will offer a five for four or similar) while putting in the NHS referral to NHS physio .

after paying 20k another £500 is worthwhile to get the best outcome. (London clinic quoted 16k so seems expensive but there you go)

Can they self refer to physio musculoskeletal service in Scotland?

Hi OP. I have private gynae surgery, also private ortho referrals both needed physical.

BUPA arranged the physio as soon as I told them it had been reqyested by the consultant. Your relative should have booked this in before the operation.

It will still be paid for by the private provider, but that doesn't necessarily mean the hospital where the op took place.

I was struggling with pain a week after my op, my consultant had gone on leave and the private hospital had no interest.

They do the op and you're off the books.

*physio, not physical!

DH had knee replacement at Murrayfield covered by Bupa, the physio there that got him back on his feet and showed him how to walk with sticks gave him exercises to do initially. He had to arrange his own physio, choosing from about 4 local to us that were on the Bupa list. I think 6 sessions was paid by them. After the 6 physio recommended further appointments and wrote to Bupa to get them to cover more. I think it would've been about £50 a session if they hadn't covered it.6 months on now and it's been absolutely key to the success of the op. Waiting times for NHS physio is months around here, they even sent out letters asking people if they still needed to be seen, non reply being taken as "take me off the list".
Unfortunately I think to see the best return for the money already invested you need to stump up another few hundred for the physio.

You'd think if it were essential if would have been raised before now and it hasn't

Please don't dither out of principle - make an appointment today, the chances of a successful outcome will diminish by the day without the right physio.
Just find one at the same hospital they had the surgery in. Then query with the surgeon later.

Can you be sure it hasn't? Lots of people struggle dealing with anything medical, and they don't ask questions and they don't remember what they've been told. (Hence it being better for as much as possible being put into writing.)

Regardless, there are lots of physios doing private practice. Physio for a knee replacement is very straightforward - mostly it's exercises to do at home.