Veteran takes advantage of shorter Birmingham NHS waiting list and has two joint replacements in under six months

Derrick, 63, a former Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers soldier served in the Falklands War, the first Gulf War and Bosnia chose to travel 80 miles from his hometown to the hospital to receive two joint replacements – a left hip and knee – within six months, something he says would not have been possible had he remained on his local waiting list.

Through veteran charity Stepway, Derrick learned he could use NHS patient choice to transfer his referral to Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham, where waiting times were weeks rather than months.

He told the MP: “I was in constant, agonising pain. I’d been on my local hospital’s waiting list for over six months with no surgery date in sight. I could barely move, and I couldn’t even walk my dogs anymore. Had I not switched my NHS referral to Birmingham, I’d still be waiting for surgery today.”

He explained how switching waiting lists helped him access surgery much sooner: “Most people don’t realise they’re allowed to move from their local waiting list to another hospital even if it’s further from home. After seeing a post on Facebook about the hospital’s shorter waiting times for NHS patients and how I was entitled to switch NHS waiting lists under patient choice I went to my GP. I had to explain the process to him, but once I did, the referral only took a week.”

Now walking pain-free and preparing to continue his career in maintenance at a school near his home, Derrick says the impact has been life-changing. He said: “I’ve got my independence back. The hospital’s understanding, efficiency and compassion – especially from a team that includes fellow servicemen and women – is second to none.”

Preet Kaur Gill MP said: “It was impressive to see how Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham is focused on getting people treated quickly, safely and with dignity and to learn of Veteran Derrick’s experience. Too many of my constituents are waiting far too long for procedures like joint replacements, cataract surgery and diagnostics. Patient choice is vital in helping people access healthcare sooner, and independent facilities like this can play an important role in easing pressure on waiting lists. My office regularly receives calls from constituents concerned about their current surgery waiting times, so it’s been refreshing to see what is being done so effectively at this new hospital to help people in the West Midlands and further afield.”

Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham opened its theatres a year ago following a £10million investment in 2024, transforming the hospital into a modern, patient-focused site treating both NHS patients and those choosing private care through its Wellsoon service.

The hospital was recently awarded Veteran Awareness Accreditation in recognition of staff being trained to identify veterans, understand service-related injuries and support access to appropriate care.

Samantha Doubleday, Hospital Director and a veteran herself, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Preet to the hospital and showcase our new facilities, and explain how we are ensuring patients can access timely care whether through the NHS or privately, either self-paying or using medical insurance. We are particularly proud of the support we provide to veterans who have given so much in service to this country, and it was extremely positive to demonstrate our veteran-aware care in action and introduce Preet to a patient who has benefited from this approach.”

NHS patients can ask their GP for a referral to Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham. Private patients can book directly through Wellsoon private healthcare from Practice Plus Group – where hip and knee replacement patients can expect to be treated within 4–6 weeks of seeing a consultant.