1. Community
  2. Operations and surgical procedures
  3. Hip Replacement

Hip consultation keeps getting delayed and a question on going private

Posted , 5 users are following.

james56388
james56388

Hello all,

Last October after receiving encouragement on this site, I decided to go ahead with a hip replacement. I had already seen a surgeon who suggested I try physio but it didn't help that much, after which I joined this site for advice. One of the things that was mentioned was that I could change my surgeon, and after some research I found someone with more experience than the consultant I'd seen, and so I asked the hospital if I could change to him. Unfortunately the paperwork was messed up (I love the NHS but...) and finally this was agreed in December.

I was due a phone consultation with the new surgeon (due to Covid) in January which was then rescheduled for February. Then rescheduled again for April. And now I've just received a letter saying it's been put back again until July. And this is just the initial consultation! It's so frustrating because I had my initial consultation with the original surgeon in early 2020, it was only my lack of decision making and then changing the surgeon that has brought about all these delays. It's looking less and less likely that I'm going to be able to have the op this year.

I'm considering going private but this would clear me out financially, but is do-able, just. My main worry about this is what happens if things go wrong post op? It looks like 13-15 grand for the op, and you only get one follow up consultation! If I have post op issues, do I have to then pay more (which I won't be able to afford) or will I have to go on an NHS list and potentially wait months and months to be seen?

Any advice on what I could do to speed up the NHS route? I'm very aware that in this age of Covid then I'm lucky at all to be seen, but I do feel that I could have been seen much earlier if I hadn't changed my surgeon, I'm wondering if there's some way I could get an appointment sooner with an alternative surgeon, or somehow expedite my operation.

Thanks in advance.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • bryan91442
    bryan91442 james56388

    Edited

    Hi James56388,

    At the start of 2020 I found myself in much the same position but without the changing surgeons bit.

    Like yourself I have great faith in the NHS and having had hip pain (Left) for over a year I went to my GP who knew just where to press and twist. When I came down from the ceiling he said he was sure it was arthritis and sent me for an Xray. This confirmed I had advanced arthritis and following a call from the NHS I was given an appointment for mid March 2020. Two weeks before the appointment the hospital called to say it was cancelled indefinitely due to gearing up for Covid and they would issue a new appointment when they could.

    Fast forward to August and having heard nothing despite a couple of phone calls to the hospital to enquire progress I discussed (on the phone) going private with my GP. He suggested a private consultation which might speed up an NHS operation?

    Speaking to a surgeon about my Xray he thought it would 18 months to 2 years wait on the NHS because NHS management were telling surgeons to go for ‘conservative’ treatment i.e. steroid injections, physio etc rather than surgery.

    Anyway, I (we) decided to go the whole hog and pay for the operation which was all completed at a private hospital by mid September ironically by the same surgeon I had an NHS appointment with back in March! All this despite Covid.

    I don’t for a second regret spending the 11.5 grand, although I only paid half at the time and the remainder on 10 months interest free credit. Within less than 24 hours I was walking with two sticks and home after just about 48 hours with a shedload of pain killers. The physio all had to be done via Zoom because of Covid which was very successful and I didn’t have to leave home.

    Three months post op I walked most days at least 3 – 4 miles and now at nearly 7 months I can do 8 -9 miles without any problem, my personal target is 10 which I could easily do a couple of years ago before the hip pain started, all of course with the odd rest.

    I read that most people seem to have stiches or clips, I had tapes and a waterproof dressing which meant I could have a shower the day after the surgery. A few months on and I have a very neat thin and fading scar.

    So, if you can afford it I would heartily recommend it, you could be waiting a long time for the NHS.

    Best of luck.

    • james56388
      james56388 bryan91442

      Edited

      Thanks for your reply Bryan, much appreciated. Funny, you actually replied on the day I had my surgery!

      Similar to you, I decided to go private and was seen by the same surgeon who it was looking like I wouldn't get to see this year. The whole process took less than 3 weeks from picking up the phone to getting the op. It's quite sad it has to be like that but this isn't a politics forum so I'll stop there!

      So far, so good. It's now 5 days since the op, I'm able to walk with 2 sticks and am doing my exercises.

      Good luck in your continued recovery.

  • Howeller
    Howeller james56388

    Edited

    Hi James 56388,

    I presented needing hip done in July 2019 (pre covid). Unfortunately I took the surgeon's recommendation of an injection which was useless so presented again Jan 2020. The rest you can guess, however I was offered the op in august, NHS. I couldn't take up the offer then because of a dodgy ECG (no problems found BTW when CT scanned) so disappointed! I was offered the op again in February this year, same surgeon but in a private hospital. Now all complete. Some thoughts as you are only 5 months from first consult...

    1. Private will deliver a faster op, private room and better food but no better treatment. The NHS lead the way on THR, they are the gold standard. However, if you are in excruciating pain, then paying will deliver you from that. All consultants work in the NHS in order to maintain their skills, so all ops are performed by the same surgeons.
    2. Things can go wrong when you go private as well as in the NHS but they are usually down to the treatment so in my experience they will be put right free of charge.
    3. My outcome is excellent as good as the one I had done in 2015 (NHS). I am 6 weeks post op and walking 2-4 miles a day.
    4. Home 36 hours after op on one crutch. I had dissolvable stitches, steri-strips and a waterproof dressing and no precautions (e.g. sleeping on back). V Neat scar.
    5. My advice on speeding up NHS: ring the surgeon's secretary (he/she has 2: NHS and private, ring both) and beg, it has worked for me in the past.
    6. ATM all post op consultations and physio are done by phone!

    Good luck!

    • james56388
      james56388 Howeller

      Posted

      Many thanks for your reply Howeller. As I said to Bryan above, I went private in the end as the thought of waiting 2 years was too much to bear. Anyway, it's now 5 days into recovery and still quite painful, I'm not doing quite as well as you did after such a short period of time, but I'm happy. I'm so relieved I'm on the other side!

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.