Hi all, I live in north west UK, and my left knee is shot. Its bone on bone and has been for some time.
I am a life long believer in and supporter of the NHS and having to pay for necessary treatment privately or do without is to me offensive. Healthcare should be based on peoples needs, not their ability to pay. I'm not against private treatment in principle but it should not be the only option.
Having said that I now find myself in the position of having to consider it. My experience with my knee to date has been an eye opener. Cursory research turns up phrases such as "Patient choice" and "The legal right to treatment within 18 weeks". What a load of nonsense, there are so many loopholes and ways around such concepts that they are reduced to being utterly meaningless.
I was referred to my surgeon in late 2018 who initially required me (with justification, BMI 32) to lose weight. My knee got progressively worse and in Aug 2019 after losing just over 3 stone he put me on the list for surgery. My 18 weeks had expired in mid December 2019 and having heard nothing I rang his secretary who informed me I was still a long way down the list. I enquired of her that as I had a legal right to treatment within 18 weeks what my options were. She actually chuckled and said "Oh I'm afraid that Mr xxxx has never managed to achieve an 18 week list" and that my options are to find another surgeon "Its called patient choice you know" and with that she put the phone down, which was just as well as I may have become rather rude had she not. That was 9 months ago and I still haven't heard anything. I am obviously aware of the Covid 19 complications but I had been on the list for 30 plus weeks before that kicked off.
Anyway rant over and done with I find now that if I want any sort of useful existence (I can no longer walk more than literally a few feet) I'm gonna have to put my hand in my pocket which fortunately I'm able to do. Research shows that private treatment in Poland, France etc is significantly cheaper than UK with savings of several 1000's of pounds so not be sniffed at.
Question, has anyone done this and what were your experiences. Of the actual visit to the country itself and the need for and availability of aftercare upon return to the UK.
Regards ian
I am a life long believer in and supporter of the NHS and having to pay for necessary treatment privately or do without is to me offensive. Healthcare should be based on peoples needs, not their ability to pay. I'm not against private treatment in principle but it should not be the only option.
Having said that I now find myself in the position of having to consider it. My experience with my knee to date has been an eye opener. Cursory research turns up phrases such as "Patient choice" and "The legal right to treatment within 18 weeks". What a load of nonsense, there are so many loopholes and ways around such concepts that they are reduced to being utterly meaningless.
I was referred to my surgeon in late 2018 who initially required me (with justification, BMI 32) to lose weight. My knee got progressively worse and in Aug 2019 after losing just over 3 stone he put me on the list for surgery. My 18 weeks had expired in mid December 2019 and having heard nothing I rang his secretary who informed me I was still a long way down the list. I enquired of her that as I had a legal right to treatment within 18 weeks what my options were. She actually chuckled and said "Oh I'm afraid that Mr xxxx has never managed to achieve an 18 week list" and that my options are to find another surgeon "Its called patient choice you know" and with that she put the phone down, which was just as well as I may have become rather rude had she not. That was 9 months ago and I still haven't heard anything. I am obviously aware of the Covid 19 complications but I had been on the list for 30 plus weeks before that kicked off.
Anyway rant over and done with I find now that if I want any sort of useful existence (I can no longer walk more than literally a few feet) I'm gonna have to put my hand in my pocket which fortunately I'm able to do. Research shows that private treatment in Poland, France etc is significantly cheaper than UK with savings of several 1000's of pounds so not be sniffed at.
Question, has anyone done this and what were your experiences. Of the actual visit to the country itself and the need for and availability of aftercare upon return to the UK.
Regards ian