Hip Replacement---Any NHS hurry up procedures

Hi, as an example of NHS timings I was referred by my GP in Jan, saw the consultant in July and had hip replacement end of Sept. My other leg is now acting up so I will be going privately if necessary instead of enduring the pain for months. My treatment was excellent (NHS Lothian Scotland) but oh the agony while I waited.

I've been lurking on here since my op - many thanks folks for all the useful tips !

I didn't wait very long at all for my NHS operation (2 months in total). I used the Choose and Book system to choose a surgeon (someone I was already acquainted with) and the hospital and had virtually no wait. I'm in Manchester and had the op at Spire Hospital a week ago today.

I had mine done within a month all be it it was a cancellation.

Do what I did. There was a certain surgeon I wanted to see. I got GP to write me a referral letter and I made a private appointment. Cost £180. When you see consultant at private hospital you tell him you wish to be treated from then on as NHS.

You then are not on any waiting list and have op in private hosp. I have had the best of treatment and my lovely surgeon has never billed me yet for private consultation

Best of luck. X

Hi I think the process depends on your Health Authority.  However, in saying that you can be proactive - I was and I firmly believe that helped me - I only waited 6 weeks from the consultation with the surgeon for the op.

Also, your doctor is only likely to have an approximate idea on how long you are likely to wait.  I was told a number of times that it would be between 12-18 weeks. As previously mentioned, it turned out to be considerably less than that.

For example (and of course I can only speak from own experience) - allow correspondence to be emailed to you.  Make sure that the hospital/referring clinic/your doctor has both a landline and mobile numbers and that they are aware that you are happy to receive a call on your mobile.

When you receive an email with your letter, wait 24 hours and phone up to arrange an appointment.  Do not wait to contacted.

Conversely, if you haven't heard anything from the doctor/hospital/clinic after about a week, then chase them up.

Good luck and I hope you get your op as soon as possible.

 

Hi,  We live in North East UK, saw surgeon of my choice on NHS within 3-4 weeks and had op in private hospital on NHS within 3 weeks of seeing surgeon who described condition as very, very severe.  Like you I was in a lot of pain and if things had not happened quickly I would have opted to go privately, but fortunately had same hospital and surgeon on NHS that I would have paid for.  This was in June of this year and when I checked waiting list times at various local hospitals, they were stating around 14 to 20 weeks average waiting time.  Might be worth seeing how things pan out before you commit yourself to paying for an expensive operation.

Good luck.

Hi sorry your in such pain bone on bone is horrendous!!

When you get your letter ring and make a friend of the Consultants Secretary ...That's what I did and also say your willing to have done if someone cancels ?

Good luck Julie x

I was told by my surgery that you have to have received treatment 18weeks after surgeondoctor have agreed treatment.  I onky waited 4 months..... Had original hip replaced privately and new one 3 months ago on NHS.  Treatment at local hosp was brilliant.  Cannot fault it..... 

Can't help you with your enquiry I'm afraid but my son, 39, needs hip replacement but won't be considered for 11 years!!!!  Can you tell me how much yours cost please?

Hi I had to wait 9 months to have myn even after all the phone calls to my consultants secretary didn't make any difference , perhaps other people may have been luckier. I was in agony on a lot of painkillers . Hope you hear something soon . 

Are you in England ? Here in Wales it is just under one year ...it is the longest apparently . All you can do is when you see the surgeon .. And that can takes about 3 months .. REALLY lay it on about how it is affecting your life and what pain your in and how you can't do this that and the other . Cry if you can !! I did this and was on the list for 6 months .. After I honestly told him face to face what a burden it was , how the injection wore off, how I cannot climb stairs and it had been going on for 5 years... He said he would try to get it done ASAP . Plus he was true to his word I was in and done about 6 weeks later . You really do have to put on an Oscar winning performance and it should not have to be this way but unfortunately it is !!

Good luck ...

I think unfortunately it really depends on where you live. I had my first x-ray several years ago, and hung on for ages, because I didn't want to have it done too soon. When it was really painful, doctor referred me, and I saw the consultant in late June. He got out his diary and would have operated a couple of weeks later, but I had stuff I wanted to do, so had it done in mid July. I live in north London. Hospital was brilliant. Good luck.

Hi there I had bone on bone o/a saw consultant

and was given a date for 10weeks on.

Had call from hospital offering a cancellation

which brought my waiting time halved, ask to

be offered a cancellation I had the best NHS

care couldnt have asked for better I'm in Shropshire

wish you well 🙋

I know here is Australia if you see a specialist privately if can help you although they will deny it.

I know in my case I had a Cat 2 rating at the hospital with my GP's letter, would never have been seen publicly, saw a specialist and suddenly upgraded to Cat 1 rating a week after specialist appt, it helped some, finally saw a locum at my GP's office, he just picked up the phone and rang the hospital emergency dept, had me seen within a week.  I still wonder if I had attended the emergency department without my painkillers one morning they would have seen me even earlier. as hip effectively broken apparently, as your sounds, mine had a hole in the ball, or what was left of it, and every time I stepped and mishappen ball was drilling a hole in my pelvis as well, private specailist told me under no circumstances to step down even one step on that leg, best to use the other leg.