Possible problems with hip replacement

all_greek_to_me

[I'm not sure whether this is the right place for this post. Please move it/redirect me if it's not.]

My 70-something mother had her hip replaced, privately, in 2006. She wanted a particular type of keyhole surgery, which wasn't available locally, so opted for a private hospital two hours away. She's been mostly symptom free since, although she does occasionally experience hip pain. She's had no further treatment.

Late last year, a relative drew her attention to reports in the media of widespread problems with a DePuy hip replacement implant. My mother contacted her surgeon to find out whether she'd had this particular implant and was told by his secretary that they'd been trying to contact her. (She'd moved since the operation.) The secretary couldn't tell her much, other than that she might need further investigations. It's since been confirmed that although she had a DePuy implant, it's not the one that was recalled in the UK in the autumn. However, the consultant told my mother that she still needed a MRI scan, to check for any damage to her implant, so she immediately contacted her health insurers to discuss a claim. After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing, they approved the MRI, but she'll need to pay a substantial excess and her premium will undoubtedly shoot up next year. (She's already had to claim twice this year, for other issues.) The insurers have said that any further treatment/action won't necessarily be covered.

I'm a bit confused by the whole thing and how best my mother should proceed. The MRI has been ordered by the consultant, presumably because there have also been problems with the type of implant used in her operation, but she's going to be substantially out of pocket as a result. Could she opt out of the private MRI scan and have it done on the NHS, even though the initial treatment was private? Should she?

Thanks,
all_greek

Kittendreich

If she is not experiencing any symptoms from the replacement I'm not sure whether the NHS would investigate. If she was having problems then they investigate the same as if she had had the procedure on the NHS (although may have difficulties if they do not work with that type of replacement joint). The NHS regularily picks up the pieces after private cosmetic surgery goes wrong, so I don't think this would be different just because it was not a cosmetic procedure. She should speak to her GP who will clarify what the process would be in her area.

I'd query whether if there may be problems with the implant itself whether she should have to pay to get it checked? If I get double glazing fitted to my house and they recall that type of window and have to do some check on my house to see if I'm affected I wouldn't expect to pay for it... it shouldn't be any different just because they have sold you a faulty hip joint... (From a cynical point of view - is her surgeon just playing on her fears for a bit of extra profit?...there is nothing known wrong with the hip joint she has and she has no symptoms....so what is the investigation for...?)

The question as to whether she 'should' use the NHS is one for her to decide. She chose to get a 'better' service by going private, so perhaps just needs to live with the consequences of that choice. On the other hand she would have cost the NHS money if she hadn't had her hip done privately...

It is this type of senario that show the shortcomings of private healthcare - ongoing care means ongoing extra cost. Please all make sure that you are aware of the changes that the Tory's are proposing for the NHS which will lead England to a private healthcare system where charges for everything are the norm. I'm in Scotland where these proposals don't apply and I'm am shocked by the lack of public uproar there is in England to potentially losing the NHS. (Sorry for the rant, but I just think the world will be a scary place if everyone doesn't have the NHS to fall back on)