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Spire Hospital

Posted , 12 users are following.

jenniferLouise
jenniferLouise

Has any Hippy had experience of the Spire hospital on Norwich please?  I am considering having my THR there but the cost is eyewatering.  Is it worth the money?  I understand some NHS patients have their op there also.  Any comments would be appreciated.  Thank you.

1 like, 20 replies

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  • christine69594
    christine69594 jenniferLouise

    Posted

    Hi Jennifer Louise

    I had my op at the spire in Norwich, it was great, thoroughly recommend it. I was NHS and referred there though cos of black alert and my waiting times.

    I would go there again.

    My consultant was Mr Wimhurst who was great, theatre staff were lovely, nurses lovely, food nice etc etc.

    What's not to like, follow up care very good.

    I was in wheelchair 23rd Jan, had op that afternoon and out Monday morning, would have been out Sunday night if I hadn't have passed out and had to have 2 pints of blood but a word of warning, no matter what they say, if they tell you to wash yourself, only do upper body, not legs as that's when I passed out.

    I went back as they suggested when I had 2 lumps arrive in both lower legs and I rang to tell them and they were still absolutely, lovely doctor had all the time in the world for me although it was nothing to worry about.

    Oh yes and lovely view, clean etc.

  • christine69594
    christine69594 jenniferLouise

    Posted

    Oh and what I meant to say was, I'm 11 weeks now and back at work, driving, going out and doing almost everything I could do before I had the pain. No length discrepancy in my legs, no infection etc.
  • eileen64__UK
    eileen64__UK jenniferLouise

    Posted

    Hi

    I've never been there ....had both mine done in Northumberland under the NHS

    Have you any real reason for wanting to go privately?  Especially if that hospital takes people under the NHSscheme....I have had no complaints about the NHS either time I was in having mine replaced

    Love

    Eileen  UK

    • jenniferLouise
      jenniferLouise eileen64__UK

      Posted

      I don't have a good reason to go privately .  It is my husband who is pressing me to do so.  I was in such a lot of pain for six weeks over Christmas, oral morphine, crutches etc etc and he is worried that this could happen again.  Originally my GP said it was a massive flare up of arthritis in my knee but after X-rays and an MRI  she said she would like me to see an orthopedic surgeon but that the wait for this was 12 weeks so I paid £195 to see someone immediately.  You could have knocked me over when he said it wasn't my knee I causing the pain I needed a new hip.  I asked about waiting times etc and he estimated nine months.  My name was actually put on The List on 27th March.  Time will tell how long I wait but if this terrible  pain returns in the meantime I may well think again.  I can't go through that pain again.  If childbirth is worse than this thank heavens I didn't have kids!
    • mic71403
      mic71403 jenniferLouise

      Posted

      Hi Jennifer Louise

      I too went to osteopath with knee probs....only to be told it twas hips!

      I has first hip done at the private Nuffield orthopaedic centre in Oxford....but referred as an NHS patient. Excellent....

      Just had second hip done at Exeter...excellent again; NHS again.

      All l would say is specifically money is well spent on physio and on person trainer time after...Most of UK has the NHS spend lots on the op...but not on physio. A few folk here have had physio classes ...but few. Which is key to a good recovery. A book of exercises is just not the same!

      Mic

      X

  • amanda1827h
    amanda1827h jenniferLouise

    Posted

    Hi I had my hip done on the NHS! Using choose and book,as I suffer from chronic anxiety!! It was great! Why don't you ask your gp to see if they have choose and book? Then call up choose and book for the nearest private hospital and check they do orthopaedic ops and call them up to see what NHS consultant s work there! Good luck!! Regards Amanda
  • eileen64__UK
    eileen64__UK jenniferLouise

    Posted

    There you are  LOL.....I can confirm how anxious Amanda was beforehand so if she recommends it ...it must be good .....Isnt that right Amandacheesygrin

    Love

    Eileen   UK

     

  • amanda1827h
    amanda1827h jenniferLouise

    Posted

    I was absolutely scared big time before my op!many people thought I would bottle! But to be honest none of these hospital s understand anxiety! Esp chronic anxiety! But in many ways I am pleased ! Its not easy being my hubby s carer on top of this! But we still have his carers for the next few weeks! Regards Amanda
  • valerie48782
    valerie48782 jenniferLouise

    Posted

    hi - i had mine done on NHS and have absolutely no complaints - using choose and book you can see where the consultants work privately and choose accordingly

    xx

  • Lama22
    Lama22 jenniferLouise

    Posted

    Hi Jennifer

    I suppose it all comes down to where you live.

    I am now 5 weeks post op, which took place in a private hospital through NHS.

    I first saw the specialist March 2014. He gave me option of a hip block to diagnose whether it was my hip or back. If the hip block reduced pain, it was my hip and therefore would need hip replacement.

    Relief from hip block lasted 3 months (bliss).

    but basically from seeing consultant to hip replacement I was 12 months, with pain relief from hip blocks in between.

    Barbara

  • hilary02336
    hilary02336 jenniferLouise

    Posted

    Hi

    I wasted a whole year in being diagnosed as having back pain, having physio which incurred heaps of exercises which I was already doing at Pilates before going back to GP again and asking for referral.  I went online to choose and found the Duchy(which is private) offering a consultation before any of the other three hospitals(which incidentally have been cancelling operations daily for the last few months). So went to the Duchy which was very good.

    i have had 6 operations over the last 15 years  and three of them were NHS. The other three were private simply because of waiting lists and the consultant actually told me that if I was not operated on in the next 6 months I could use the use of my arm and I was a musician!!!   

    Differences  I experienced were that I found out under a private appointment what was actually wrong with me, the private room, consultations with anaesthetist and consultant longer, call bell s answered quicker as obviously there aren't so many of us in a small hospital. I have never regretted spending my money for a quick  solution as I feel I want to live life to the full and not be in pain and incapacitated if I have the means to do so.

    so go for it unless you can get into the choose and book system.

    PS. My hospital experience has been in the South West only.

  • john80514
    john80514 jenniferLouise

    Posted

     Hi Jennifer Louise

    I have had both hips done at Spire Hospital Norwich.

    Although the Surgeon Mr Wimhurst and his team are fab the aftercare is non excistant.

    You have to buy all the equipment you need following the Operation where as NHS I've been told supply.

    Although my latest Op was successful I have accounted many other problems since and am being treated by the NHS.

    I beleive they sent me home too early as I had a very low blood count.

    The good points about going private is you can pick your own date and have a room on your own in the Hospital,food is also very good.

    Good luck for the future.

     

  • eileen64__UK
    eileen64__UK jenniferLouise

    Posted

    Hi, I've just read your reply to my questions.......in that case I dont blame you......good luck

    Love

    Eileen  UK

  • jason42777
    jason42777 jenniferLouise

    Posted

    Hi Jennifer Louise, my surgeon in coventry/ rugby does both nhs and private work. I Waited 18months from first apt with consultant to op. That said I didn't have 10000 odd pounds to go private.also care was excellent from top to bottom ...surgical team, nurses, hygene, food all fab.smile and physio... ooh eck reminds me gkt gym class tomorrow!

    However it pans out hope all goes well for you.

    Jay

    • jenniferLouise
      jenniferLouise jason42777

      Posted

      Thank you Jason.  I don't think the wait from first consultation to operation is quite as long here in Norfolk as it is in your area.  BUT if I go private the fees for the hospital stay, the surgeon etc start at just under £15k.  Gulp! This does not include pre or post op care (this is done via my Gp and is therefore NHS funded). I think I'm right in saying I should also pay for post op examination by the surgeon plus any other extras.   I've already paid for the consultation plus £120 for two X-rays.  As I'm not a wealthy woman this 'blank cheque' approach is not for me but I'm interested to find out exactly what I might expect for my money.  I do , however, expect to pay for additional physiotherapy as I think the allocated sessions are not that many.  Getting back to an active life is important and really, is the whole point of the operation.  Fingers crossed.
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