As the second wave of Covid has gathered momentum, we’ve seeing an upturn in the number of private patients asking whether private joint replacement surgery remains a viable option. We understand the concern. If you are in pain and are waiting for a joint replacement procedure, you don’t want to wait any longer than is absolutely necessary for your surgery.
The impact of the pandemic means that waiting times across the NHS have gone up. But many people are also concerned about the impact on private healthcare providers. So, what is the best thing to do right now?
Joint replacement surgery on the NHS
We want to reassure NHS patients that routine surgery is still continuing and, if you are scheduled to undergo a joint replacement, you will still get your surgery. However, you will have to wait longer then normal as hospitals respond to the rise in Covid cases. The good news is that the NHS has had longer to plan for the second wave and contingency plans have been put in place, including “green sites”, which are largely Covid free and that can continue to offer surgery such as joint replacements.
Should I go private?
If you are considering going privately for your joint replacement, you may be concerned about reduced capacity within private healthcare providers that may affect your surgery. Private hospitals have been supporting the NHS since April and are likely to continue to do so throughout the second wave. So, what does this mean for private patients?
If you need joint replacement surgery, having the operation done privately means you will be seen a lot sooner than you would if you were waiting on the NHS.
Advantages of having surgery sooner
There are many advantages to this, the main one being that you will be out of pain a lot sooner so you will be able to get your life back on track and resume doing the things you enjoy. This is likely to have a positive impact on your overall wellbeing and quality of life. Having your surgery sooner also reduces the risk of complications due to the deterioration of your joints and it prevents your symptoms from worsening.
Benefits of going private
Unfortunately, even in a private healthcare setting, the impact of Covid means that there is likely to be a longer wait than normal for joint replacement surgery. However, private orthopaedic surgeons like us have been working hard to minimise any inconvenience to our patients and the wait they face remains significantly less than it would be on the NHS. And, of course, all of the normal reasons for choosing to go private still apply from more personalised, one-to-one care, to rapid diagnosis, surgery using the most advanced techniques and structured rehabilitation.
Choosing a private surgeon
If you are considering having private joint replacement surgery, we recommend choosing a reputable surgeon with extensive experience of that particular type of surgery.
At Castle Orthopaedics, we direct our patients to About page where they can read brief biographies of our orthopaedic consultants and find out about their specialist areas of expertise. And, of course, we’re always happy to respond to enquiries whether over the phone or via email.
Orthopaedic specialists – Nottingham
Our orthopaedic consultants each specialise in a particular area of orthopaedics, giving you added peace of mind that you are receiving expert medical advice and highly tailored treatment.
Locations include:
BMI The Park Hospital
Sherwood Lodge Drive Burntstump Country Park, Arnold NG5 8RX
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Spire Nottingham Hospital
Tollerton Ln, Tollerton, Nottingham NG12 4GA
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