Britons are turning to private healthcare to escape agony as around 45,000 people languish on NHS waiting lists for hip replacements. Research reveals many people are still waiting more than a year before they gain the treatment they need.
A total of 30,460 patients were in the NHS queue for a new hip in England at the end of March, with an average wait time of 34 weeks. The number on the list is up from 29,776 last year.
The Government insists that “nobody should be forced to go private for healthcare” but Britons eager to get on with their lives are digging into their savings. In Scotland, 8,537 people are awaiting treatment, with the average time from referral to treatment nearly 39 weeks (270 days).
Waits are especially severe for patients in Wales. At the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board – which serves Newport, Monmouth, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and south Powys – the average wait for patients in the last year was 76 weeks. The time was down from 86 weeks in the previous 12 months but up from 68 weeks in 2023-24.
A total of 1,657 people were on the list at the last count. In the last year, 55 patients were removed from the waiting list after going private, the board revealed.
Companies are now offering services to help people obtain affordable private operations in hospitals overseas.
Sara Gezdari, of My Medical Gateway, which arranges for people to be treated in Europe, said: “Many people join NHS waiting lists after already spending months or years attempting to manage their condition through physiotherapy, pain relief medication, injections and lifestyle modifications. By the time surgery is recommended, they are often already struggling. The true impact of waiting is measured not in weeks but in declining quality of life due to increasing pain levels, sleep disruption, reduced mobility and more. The longer treatment is delayed, the greater the risk that these effects become entrenched.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Nobody should be forced to go private for healthcare. We’ve cut the overall waiting list by 340,000 since July 2024, and more people are getting hip replacements and similar treatments within 18 weeks of being referred. We know there is more work to do, but through record funding and harnessing the latest technology, we will make sure people get safe, timely care, free at the point of use.”
But Ms Gezdari said: “The impact of delayed hip replacement surgery extends far beyond healthcare.Many patients continue working despite severe symptoms. As pain worsens, productivity often falls. Some reduce their hours. Others leave work entirely. The consequences can be particularly significant for self-employed individuals who depend upon physical mobility to earn a living. At a national level, delayed treatment contributes to lost productivity, increased welfare costs and growing demand for social care services. At an individual level, the financial impact can be life-changing.”
Shadow Secretary of State Stuart Andrew said: “Two years is far too long to wait for hip replacement surgery. Tens of thousands people are suffering because of these delays. Labour’s weakness in the face of doctors’ strikes has compounded the problem. The Government must get a grip of this situation and ensure the backlog is cleared before it grows even larger.”