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

Waiting time

Posted , 14 users are following.

linda29392
linda29392

After ending up in A&E in severe pain and unable to walk, I was told I needed a hip replacement but needed to be referred by my GP.  I saw my GP at the end of October and he referred me .  I got to see a consultant at the end of January only to be told the waiting list is a year.  I have since been told by the the waiting list co ordinator that the wait starts from the time of consultation not from time of referral.  This means I will have to wait until at least next January.  I am practically housebound now and in a lot of pain.

Is there anyone who was referred at the same time as me and are you having to wait as long.

2 likes, 31 replies

31 Replies

Prev
  • breeze61
    breeze61 linda29392

    Posted

    Hi Linda,

    I feel for you but I don't think there are enough surgeons around to keep up with demand. Of course, if you've got the cash, then money talks even if you've paid into the NHS system all your life.  There are so many more people now getting replacements at a younger age and then of course a multitude of patients queuing up for revisions.

    In my case I have found that by writing a brief letter explaining your background and present condition to other consultants, possibly totally out of your area, can produce results. You can then go to your doctor and ask to be referred to that consultant. Do your research first and check that the consultant has been regularly doing  replacements for some years.

    I'm having to wait another year for my second replacement but am not in critical position like you so I accept it.

    Good luck to you and like others have said do as much self help as possible whilst waiting. Do try to keep the muscles around the hip strong, if you can, which helps the hip stability and gets healing blood to the joint. You can use exercises using elastic bands  looped under a bed or wardrobe foot and put your foot inside and pull against the resistance of the band. I got this advice from a book called 'how to heal your hips without surgery' which  had some useful advice. The book is over 20 years old now but it may have been revised.

    • linda29392
      linda29392 breeze61

      Posted

      Thanks Breeze, I'll look into writing to other consultants.

      Elastic band excercises sound a good idea.  I will have a look on the web and see if I can find some other ideas.

      Good luck with your next op when it comes around.

      I'm really pleased I found this site.  

    • breeze61
      breeze61 linda29392

      Posted

      Thanks Linda and good luck to you. I am very pleased with my replacement and marvel at the skill and technology now being used.
    • judith12644
      judith12644 linda29392

      Posted

      Yes I did the elastic band exercises too. I was referred for physio by my gp and given a sheet of exercises to do. It helped me to keep mobile pre op. I’m really sorry about your long waiting time. I wish you all the best, Judith 
  • karen53823
    karen53823 linda29392

    Posted

    Hi Linda sorry to hear you are in so much pain I know how you feel.  I too had been suffering in severe pain for years.  I eventually went to my doctors in September  last year where he said he would refer me to a specialist for full hip replacement but warned me it would be a long wait as like you up to a year which horrified me the thought of being in so much pain for so long.  He advised in the mean time to have Physio which I went to the following week.  My Physio was horrified to see how much pain I was in and being younger (50) could not carry on this way so she wrote a letter herself to a specialist with her concerns.  I was seen in November last year by consultant and had my hip done in February this year.  I am 7weeks post op and feel amazing pain free for the first time in many years.  It's worth getting a second opinion.  I truly hope you get sorted soon.

    Regards Karen 

    • linda29392
      linda29392 karen53823

      Posted

      Hi Karen

      I am pleased you had your replacement relatively quickly and are feeling so well.

      I was, in fact, referred to the hospital by my doctor and, urgently, by the physio he also sent me to see.

      It hasn't made any difference.  The consultant I saw sent me for an MRI scan as he thought I also had problems with my spine which proved correct but can't have anything done about that until after the hip replacement.

      Even that hasn't hurried things along.

      Thanks for your good wishes.

  • philip20437
    philip20437 linda29392

    Posted

    Hi Linda

    That does seem a long wait, my doctor referred me beginning of Dec saw my consultant Jan 3rd and had a TLHR on the 29th March, however I did opt to go to a private hospital as an nhs patient otherwise I fear it would probably have been cancelled.

    • linda29392
      linda29392 philip20437

      Posted

      Hi, I did ask about going to a private hospital as an NHS patient because I know someone who was given that option but I have been told it is for the consultant to decide where I go.

      Hope you are recovering well.

    • judith12644
      judith12644 linda29392

      Posted

      My sister paid to see a consultant privately, and now she is having her hip replaced by him on the NHS as a choose and book patient at a private hospital. Maybe look into that as a possibility?
  • melody39324
    melody39324 linda29392

    Posted

    You can get lots of information about NHS waiting times here https://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/appointment-booking/Pages/nhs-waiting-times.aspx

    The maximum waiting time should be 18 weeks and that was how long I waited. However, I used the Choose & Book option to have my op under the NHS but in a private hospital that takes NHS patients. As they don’t have A & E departments they aren’t usually as badly affected as the bigger hospitals. They don’t have intensive care either though so it’s not advisable if you have any underlying major health issues that could cause concern.

    I’d investigate what options there are in your area or nearby. You may find some hospitals have shorter lists than others.

    • melody39324
      melody39324

      Posted

      I should add that, like Judith, I also paid for a private consultation. I don’t know if that is necessary though. I think you can simply ask your GP to refer you to a particular hospital under the Choose and a Book option but you have to have been accepted for the operation and you need to do some research to see where to choose.
    • judith12644
      judith12644 melody39324

      Posted

      Actually, just to clarify, it’s my sister going down that route , because when she was initially referred by her gp, the consultant she initially saw, was unwilling to operate any time soon. (Even though she’s in constant pain having previously been very fit.) Her gp then suggested seeing a different consultant privately. 

      I had a much better experience, was in pain for a number of years, trying to delay the op for a while, was referred, met my  consultant for the first time, and he booked me straight in for the following month.

    • melody39324
      melody39324 judith12644

      Posted

      I had a similar experience to your sister. The first consultant I saw basically fobbed me off because I was so active. After six months I was getting worse and worse and so went to get a second opinion privately and that consultant said he would be quite willing to operate as Ai met all the NHS criteria. He advised me to go down the Choose we& Book Route.

Back to top
Prev

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.