A new hospital in Birmingham is astounded by how far patients are willing to travel to get hip and knee surgery since it opened last year – and is seeing a rise in Welsh patients tired of long NHS waiting lists in the country.

Figures from the hospital show surgery patients have travelled a collective 2,228 miles for private orthopaedic treatments since its’ theatres opened in January, coming from as far as North Wales (103 miles) and further south in Norwich (137 miles).

Its current lack of waiting list at the hospital is a big draw for both its private and NHS patients. However, under Welsh NHS rules, patients living in Wales are unable to be treated in English hospitals on the NHS, so it is seeing a rise in Welsh patients crossing the border to pay for faster access to orthopaedic surgeries such as hip and knee replacements.

Sue McDermott, 63, from Flint, North Wales is one such patient. Knowing her wait time in North Wales for hip surgery on the NHS would amount to around two years, Sue bit the bullet and opted to pay for private surgery with Wellsoon at the new Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham. She self-financed her hip replacement using some savings as a deposit and has arranged to pay the balance off with an interest free loan via Chrysalis Finance from the healthcare provider.

Patient Sue, from North Wales, drove 103 miles over the border to Birmingham for hip surgery

placeholder image — Patient Sue, from North Wales, drove 103 miles over the border to Birmingham for hip surgery

Sue’s GP in Flint had refused to refer her for a hip replacement as it was not deemed ‘severe’ enough, despite her complaining of “nauseating pain”. Commenting on her decision to skip the Welsh NHS waits and go private, Sue says: “My job as a support worker is really physical. For up to ten hours a day I am on my feet helping people and often pushing a wheelchair – which as you can imagine is torturous with tremendous hip pain. By last summer I’d had enough. My GP sent me for X-rays which showed there was some level of osteoarthritis deterioration, but he didn’t feel I was a candidate for surgery. Instead he suggested I do certain exercises to help ease my hip. I felt deflated as I wanted a more long-term solution to the pain.

“Seeing a leaflet for Wellsoon private healthcare from Practice Plus Group really spurred me on and I felt hopeful that there was an option for quicker hip surgery out there. Even though I’d have to pay privately and travel some distance, I felt it would be worth it to get my life back.”

Sue first travelled three hours by train to Birmingham for a consultation at the hospital and later arranged for friends to ferry her by car to the hospital and back after staying in the hospital overnight for her hip replacement surgery. She comments:

“The journey home after my surgery was a little uncomfortable, but weighing that up with the prospect of waiting months for surgery was totally worth it. I’m so glad I went private rather than rely on the NHS. I loved the clear pricing too. I paid exactly what they said I would at the start and there were no hidden extras. I know some hospitals charge this for X-rays and that for extra tests, but with Wellsoon it really was as it said on their website. I chose to put down a deposit upfront and pay off the balance over the next 12 months interest-free. It’s brilliant – it means I can keep my savings in my bank for longer.”

Taking matters into her own hands has worked well for Sue. Despite the long distance to the hospital, she feel’s she’s getting her life back. “Now I’m recovering I can start to think about the difference the surgery will make to my life,” says Sue. “Not only will it help me day-to-day at work, but it will also give me my freedom and social life back. I’d recommend the team at Wellsoon to anyone.”

Sam Doubleday, Hospital Director at the new Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham, says, “We’re seeing patients travel to us from all over the country since we opened our theatres in January. NHS waiting lists in some parts of the country can be arduous, especially for hip and knee surgery. Patients just want a fast, expert solution to their hip or knee troubles and often have one simple goal to enjoy life fully again without the pain its causing.

"It’s little wonder that we’re seeing private patients like Sue coming from parts of Wales as its NHS lists are unfortunately amongst the longest in the UK. However, we feel hopeful that with our lack of waiting lists for both private and English NHS patients we’re able to improve life for many joint pain sufferers much sooner. We’re dedicated to providing the best outcomes for our patients and delighted that Sue, and our others patients like her, have been pleased that they looked at alternative options rather than be stuck on a list.”

Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, offers fast access to surgery in as few as 4-6 weeks of seeing a consultant. Initial consultations cost £95 and include x-rays, bloods and swab tests. Visit www.practiceplusgroup.com