NHS waiting list for hip replacement in Scotland

Douglas1970
Douglas1970 Member Posts: 4
in Chat to our Helpline Team

I have just been diagnosed and been told 40 weeks to see specialist. I had a work health policy that covers private assessments so used it and saw one in a week. He told me I need an operation on both and if I wait for NHS it will be a minimum of two years. I wonder if I borrow money and get the worse hip done will I still be eligible to get the 2nd on NHS? I am 51 with three teenagers and not keen on the quick decline I am experiencing struggling putting sock on and walking far can't run.

Comments

  • Anna
    Anna Moderator Posts: 1,100

    Hello @Douglas1970,

    I see you’ve posted on the Helpline forum - I know they’ll reply soon, but meanwhile I just wanted to welcome you to the online forum. You’ll find all the members friendly and helpful, so if you have any questions or concerns about living with arthritis, do post on one of the forums and I’m sure you’ll hear from members who are happy to share their advice and experience.

    You wonder whether having one hip replaced privately will affect your NHS treatment for the other hip. I’ve attached an NHS link below which might help answer your question - it seems that it won’t be affected.

    https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/nhs-services-and-treatments/if-i-pay-for-private-treatment-how-will-my-nhs-care-be-affected/

    Best wishes, and do have a look round the forum and join in wherever you feel comfortable.

    Anna ( Mod)

    Need more help? - call our Helpline on 0800 5200 520 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm


  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,777

    Hi Douglas1970,

    Thank you for posting on our helpline forum, I am sorry to hear that you are struggling with your condition and the impact it is having on your life.

    Thank you, Anna, for attaching the link to the NHS paying private, I have had a look at the link, and it does seem that by paying for private treatment will not affect your eligibility to have NHS treatment in the future, so possibly taking further steps to enquire about this will help you get your first operation quicker.

    I also noticed in your post that you mentioned about struggling to put your socks on in the morning, there is a website called Living made easy that have lots of aids and adaptations that could help with this, they also have a Helpline the number is (Call 0300 999 0004) and they are open Monday-Friday 9.00-5pm, it may be worth giving them a call.

    If at any point it would help you to talk things through informally and in confidence to one of our Helpline advisors, you are more than welcome to call our Free Helpline on 0800 5200 520 weekdays 9am – 6pm.

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/surgery/hip-replacement-surgery/

    Best wishes

    Chris

    Helpline Advisor

  • Coddfish
    Coddfish Member Posts: 85

    My experience is in England not Scotland. I paid for private surgery because I felt the impact on my life of waiting for the nhs would be far worse. One thing to think about is whether your hip will stop you working if you don’t address it, that could change the financial equation. Many of the private hospitals are offering fixed price packages. I paid just over £13k at a Spire hospital for the surgery and aftercare including physio.

    doing your first hip privately shouldn’t affect your eligibility to get the other done in the nhs. There may also be a waiting list for private surgery - there is where I live.

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