Hip replacement

jenny-wren

Not strictly moneysaving but ....

My mother has been told that she needs a hip replacement. Ouch.

Does anyone know how long the NHS waiting list for surgery is likely to be (I assume it would be at Musgrave Park Hospital) or how much a hip replacement would cost to get done privately in NI?

Being a moneysaver I don't really want to go down the private treatment road unless her mobility deteriorates to such an extent that it impairs her quality of life, and she feels the same.

Thanks.

Pretani

My Grandmother broke her hip and was in hospital 12 days before they even operated. It would seem hip repairs/replacements aren't on the top of their priority.

Bigcammy

You'll be looking at a considerable wait for the operation and if she's overweight (and I'm not saying she is!) then they may not operate until she loses weight. I know this from someone else in the same position. Privately you're talking £4-£5k I'm sure.

thetope

My OH had a hip resurfacing last december (very similar to a replacement, but mainly used for younger patients as it allows for an easier "upgrade" to a total hip replacement as the replacement joint can wear out, he's only 35) - it was done privately at the Ulster Clinic. He got it through Bupa but i remember looking at the clinic website at the time and i *seem* to recall that it cost about £8 or 9,000. I don't see a price list for fixed price surgery on the website any more - it might have been another clinic's website we saw the price on as we did a fair bit of investigating on the web to see what it all involved.

For what it's worth, if your mother is in a lot of pain and you have been told there is a long waiting list (i.e. years), i would seriously consider stumping up the cash if you can, my boyfriend is a completely changed man, it has taken about ten years off him and once the decision was made by the consultant that a hip replacement/resurfacing was required he had to wait less than a month to get it done. The facilities and people at the ulster clinic were absolutely brilliant - infinitely better than having to spend a week in an overcrowded (and most likely very decrepit) ward in musgrave. He was walking on crutches within 24 hours but they kept him in for 5 nights. By 3 weeks he no longer needed painkillers or crutches - yes there was of course pain around the scar, but apparently it was nothing compared to what the pain in the joint had been beforehand. If you mum doesn't need to walk far and has plenty of help then she could maybe wait it out if it was bearable, but the pain in the joint was excruciating for my boyfriend and he is a farmer so needed to be mobile in the fastest possible time.

I can well understand if you feel resentful paying for something that you could (eventually...) get for free, it's a shame the NHS is a complete mess. But, what price is quality of life? I am so grateful my boyfriend had bupa - i don't so if it had been me i'd have been scuppered!

Funkyfarmgirl

I live not too far from Oswestry Hospital and im sure there knees and hips are done within a few months

jjd

Has your mother been told she will need a hip replacement or has she been told she has been put on the waiting list for a hip replacement?
Many people say they have waited years etc for surgery but due to the new (ish) waiting list guidance a patient should wait no more than 13 weeks on the waiting list for inpatient treatment.
I would get in touch with the secretary of the consultant she saw and check she is being put on the list and there are no plans for review prior to being put on the list.
It is not in the interests of the Belfast Trust to have people waiting longer than 13 weeks as the paper work for breech of targets is crazy!
If you do not hear about a pre-assessment date or a surgery date within the next 8-9 weeks I would ring and remind them of the guidance of 13 weeks and check she hasn't been forgotten about.
Unless your mother's quality of life is dreadful I suggest you hold out for another few weeks and see what the trust are doing. I think the cost here for this surgery in the private sector is thousands and it may not be done much quicker than the nhs.

Robothell

Waiting list time depends on how her general health is and how bad her hip is. She'll be prioritised on this basis but usually phoning the orthopaedic secretaries at Musgrave Park would give you a good indication. As far as I'm aware the lists aren't normally that long and Musgrave Park has some of the best (if not the best) ortho theatres in NI.

With regards going private, no idea of the cost but UIC would be able to give you an idea if you called them directly - hip replacement may actually be one of their fixed price surgeries.

tanith

I had my first hip replaced 5yrs ago in London, I only waited 4mths from the time I was told that the surgery was needed and eventually went to a private hospital that was performing Hip-replacements for the NHS , it was brilliant and I had an excellent outcome.. sadly now my second hip is deteriorating but I am expecting a longer wait this time around with all the cuts that are coming...
I think privately its between 8/9thousand pounds as it is major surgery... if you can afford to pay then I would if your Mums quality of life is affected greatly as the surgery is like instant pain relief....

revpeachy

I need knee surgery and currently on the list for Musgrave.

At first I was told waiting list was 9 weeks with a maximum wait of 13 weeks (the so called newish guidelines). My GP advised the guidelines have now been scrapped as targets have been impossible to keep so now I've been told 26 weeks before see consultant and surgery usually pretty fast following that. I telephone the hospital ervery now and then just to see if I can charm my way in early and had my GP write an additional letter (been waiting since Feb).

I have been told by a civil servant, although I don't know how reliable this is, that you can pay to see the consultant privately (circa £150.00) and have the op on NHS. I haven't researched this myself and the guy was fondly patting his wine bottle so take that with a pinch of salt.

tanith

Actually revpeachy that is a possibility, I have heard of people doing that.. I hope you don't have to wait too long..

revpeachy

Thanks Tanith, good to hear that it's possible from someone sober!! I'll investigate it further.