Hip Replacement---Any NHS hurry up procedures
Posted , 16 users are following.
Hi, any advice on how to go about speeding up a NHS hip replacement.
Xray 14 days ago shows severe left hip athritis, doctor says hip undoubtedly needs replacing (right hip replaced privately 2yrs ago). Doctor is writing to local NHS consultant/department.
Severe pain even when popping prescribed tablets; with very poor mobility, i.e. using a stick but still needing to hang onto objects and dread the morning and night time stairs, wouldn't even consider using them during the day time.
I would like to consider NHS this time to avoid costs but I am told by the doctor that UK North West waiting list will be months, she does not seem as though she can speed things up. Travel even by comfortable car is a painful procedure.
Any advice please.
0 likes, 14 replies
lisa31002 quintain
Posted
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 !
jenny03900 quintain
Posted
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.
jean95000 quintain
Posted
sandra_84282 quintain
Posted
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
Chloeparrot quintain
Posted
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.
whizzymaz quintain
Posted
Good luck.
julie49207 quintain
Posted
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
sandra01353 quintain
Posted
karno49 quintain
Posted
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?
chloebo10 quintain
Posted
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 .
hazel14263 quintain
Posted
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 ...
judith12644 quintain
Posted
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.
anna87839 quintain
Posted
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 🙋
lyn1951 quintain
Posted
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.