Two years of high-quality healthcare for Practice Plus Group, Birmingham
As Practice Plus Group Hospital Birmingham celebrates its second anniversary this month, the hospital is marking the milestone by pledging to help at least 2,027 more NHS patients by the end of 2027.
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Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham is celebrating two years of providing fast, high-quality NHS and private healthcare, treating thousands of patients and completing over 350 NHS hip and knee replacements.
Awareness of NHS Patient Choice has helped patients like Dr Hilary Jones, Brian Price, and Joy Cullen access treatment sooner, transforming their mobility, independence, and quality of life.
Celebrating a commitment to safe and compassionate care
Since opening its doors in Edgbaston in 2024, the hospital has treated thousands of private self-paying and insured patients from across the Midlands and beyond, as well as more than 5,600 NHS patients. The hospital has become a centre of excellence for planned surgery, delivering more than 350 NHS hip and knee replacements to date, including 157 hip replacements and 204 knee replacements, helping patients regain their mobility, independence and quality of life.
Among those to benefit was TV doctor Dr Hilary Jones, who travelled more than 180 miles from Kent to Birmingham for an NHS-funded hip replacement through NHS Patient Choice.
Dr Hilary said: “It was over 180 miles to get to Practice Plus Group Hospital Birmingham from my home. I’d do it again in a heartbeat for faster, quality care and highly recommend it. Patient Choice gives people real power – people just need to know it’s there.“
The anniversary comes at a time when thousands of people across the West Midlands are still waiting for planned NHS treatment, often unaware that they may have a choice about where they receive their care.
Practice Plus Group Hospital Birmingham treats both NHS and private patients, providing access to orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmology, general surgery, urology and other specialties. Many patients assume they must attend the hospital closest to home, when in fact they may be able to access treatment much sooner elsewhere through NHS Patient Choice.
Patients referred to the hospital are currently waiting an average of approximately 17 weeks from referral to first consultation, with the average time from consultant appointment to surgery being less than one month (29 days).
“It was over 180 miles to get to Practice Plus Group Hospital Birmingham from my home. I’d do it again in a heartbeat for faster, quality care and highly recommend it. Patient Choice gives people real power – people just need to know it’s there.”
Dr Hilary Jones, TV doctor and personality
Samantha Doubleday, Hospital Director said:
“Our second anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the thousands of patients who have already benefited from treatment at the hospital and to renew our commitment to supporting even more people in the years ahead.
“Too many patients, and even some healthcare professionals, are still unaware of the NHS Patient Choice scheme and the difference it can make. Raising awareness amongst both patients and GPs is vital if we are to help reduce waiting lists and ensure people can access treatment sooner.
“While some patients may need to travel a little further for surgery, doing so can often save months of waiting and help them get back to doing the things they love much sooner. We have the expertise, facilities and capacity to treat both NHS and private patients, and by making more people aware of their right to choose, we can help thousands more patients access high-quality care quickly while supporting the NHS in reducing waiting times.”
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How NHS patient choice has transformed patients’ lives
For patients such as Brian Price, 85 from Evesham, that awareness proved life changing. After being told he could face a wait of more than a year for hip replacement surgery, Brian discovered NHS Patient Choice through a friend and asked his GP to be referred to Practice Plus Group Hospital Birmingham. He went on to have two NHS-funded hip replacements in just five months.
“I had no idea I could choose where I had my NHS surgery. I’d probably still be sitting on the waiting list now, but instead I’ve had two operations in five months. The difference it’s made to me is unbelievable. I’m pain-free, I’ve got my independence back and life begins again at 85.”
Brian Price, hip replacement patient
A similar story played out for Redditch resident Joy Cullen, 67, whose hip pain forced her to give up work, rely on an electric scooter and miss out on everyday activities. After hearing about Patient Choice after seeing Dr Hilary talk about it on TV, she asked to be referred to Practice Plus Group Hospital Birmingham and underwent two hip replacements within 12 months.
“I had no idea there was another option. Choosing where I had my surgery saved so much time and completely changed my quality of life. I’m back at work, I can go walking with my husband again and enjoy holidays with friends instead of watching from the side-lines. I’m back to doing me again.”
Joy Cullen, hip replacement patient
Choosing the right option for you
Private healthcare offers greater flexibility over when, where, and by whom you’re treated. In the vast majority of cases, the waiting times are shorter too, and with Practice Plus Group, prices are transparent.
Choosing private healthcare can make planned treatment easier to fit around work, family, and personal commitments. Options to access private treatment are self-pay, payments plans, or medical insurance.
