Hip replacement op abroad?

sunflower_lass

Waiting times for ops in the uk are terrible. My elderly father needs a hip replacement, and is researching having it done somewhere in the EU for a greatly reduced cost. Can anyone share experience of this? Any advice/thoughts gratefully received

Murphybear

You have to consider not just one operation but the post op care and issues.  I’m writing from experience.

Things like knee and hip replacements require a great deal of physiotherapy afterwards.  Mine took nearly 6 months because my knee had been badly damaged 30 years previously.  I think the minimum he would need is 6 weeks.  Will he be staying in the country to get the physio and will this be included in the price?  

Or are you expecting him to get immediate physio on the NHS? That is unlikely, if he hadnt had the op done here the physio waiting times are very long.  Without proper physio it will take him much longer to get over it.

I struggled to get into the car after my knee op, with a hip op you have to lie flat, I’ve had friends who've reversed in lying down with a great deal of help.  If he doesn’t stay in the country how is he going to manage getting on a plane soon after the op?

I had my knee done 10 years ago and had a follow up visit with the orthopaedic surgeon once a year until I was finally discharged after 10 years.  These visits are important, you get x rayed, thoroughly examined and discuss any problems.  Any problems with joint replacements can be difficult to fix.  

Who will do this if the op is done outside the country 
Im sorry to sound negative, I’m not meaning to but the post op care is vitally important, you need to understand about the issues

These may be dealt with by the hospital he goes to in the EU, you will need to ask them about this

it would be a good idea to discuss it with your GP first.  

sunflower_lass

Murphybear said:

You have to consider not just one operation but the post op care and issues. 

Thank you murphybear, these are all great points to consider

Murphybear

sunflower_lass said:

Murphybear said:

You have to consider not just one operation but the post op care and issues. 

Thank you murphybear, these are all great points to consider

You are very welcome.  

Have you looked at the NHS website, there is a useful section called “Going Abroad for Treatment”.

Is your father already on the waiting list?  I have a friend who was on the list and her op got put back due to Covid for 5 months, a lot less time than we thought.  She had it done about a month before Christmas.