The nation’s favourite GP, Dr Hilary Jones, has praised the care he received from our Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham, after undergoing his second hip replacement. He chose to travel a 360-mile round trip for his NHS surgery to significantly reduce his waiting time under ‘Patient Choice’.
“My surgeon, Mr Kamran Shahid, certainly put me at ease and reassured me. I had absolute trust in him and when I was admitted, I was visited by the nursing staff, the catering staff, the anaesthetist and the doctor. So I was completely happy with communication throughout – it was 100%, so I knew exactly what was going on.”
Dr Hilary Jones, hip replacement patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham
“It was over 180 miles to get to Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham from my home – but as it’s a new hospital and it’s a private hospital that treats NHS patients, they could get me in very quickly. I’d do it again in a heartbeat for faster, quality care and highly recommend it. Patient Choice gives people real power – they just need to know it’s there.
“Patient choice gives people real power!“
Dr Hilary Jones, hip replacement patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham
“At the pre-op consultation we did the initial questionnaire and assessment, plus blood tests, X-rays, and the ECG, which is very thorough. We were then able to book in a date for surgery. I could have got in in just a few weeks but I was able to fit the surgery around my work commitments and booked it in for early July.
“The surgery itself went really well. Hip operations are relatively straightforward – it’s basically carpentry! My surgeon, Mr Kamran Shahid, certainly put me at ease and reassured me. I had absolute trust in him and when I was admitted, I was visited by the nursing staff, the catering staff, the anaesthetist and the doctor. So I was completely happy with communication throughout – it was 100%, so I knew exactly what was going on.
“I had a very straightforward spinal anaesthetic. They give you sedation and I don’t remember a thing. Didn’t hear anything, didn’t see anything! It took about an hour and a half. Then I was back in the room and fully alert having a cup of tea and some lunch. That’s the beauty of a spinal – there’s no nausea or anything like that afterwards. So, I enjoyed a nice cottage pie and a cup of tea pretty much straight away and I remember thinking, ‘Yeah, this is great!’”
Dr Hilary Jones, hip replacement patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham
“I did a flight of stairs up and down the next day!“
Dr Hilary Jones, hip replacement patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham
“When the spinal anaesthetic wears off, there’s of course a bit of discomfort, but they managed that very well. The nurses that night were really attentive. I drank a lot of tea, paracetamol and codeine to start with. I had a little bit of oromorph later on to help. I stood on my feet that night and made a few steps. But the next day, Henry and Jordan from physiotherapy came along to see me. That morning, I walked down the corridor with my crutches. I did a flight of stairs up and down, and they said I was definitely okay to go home.”
“The journey home was fine. My brother picked me up and I reclined the seat. We shared some sweets and got home a couple of hours later. It was very easy.
“At home, almost straight away I felt that I was able to get around pretty easily with a single crutch. I used the banisters for the stairs, a grabber to pick things up with, and a ‘soxon’ that helps you pull your socks on!
“I’m getting more mobile everyday“
Dr Hilary Jones, hip replacement patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham
“Right now I’m probably ahead of schedule so I can comfortably get up and down stairs without the crutches. I can walk and my balance is pretty good. I just have minimal discomfort over the wound site now. I can walk a quarter to half a mile daily, and I’m increasing that bit by bit, as I’ve been told to do. I’m doing all of the physio exercises religiously and getting more mobile bit by bit every day.
“My plan for the next few weeks is to increase the physio exercises, walk more, do some upper body exercise to stay in shape and then I’ll incorporate some static bike exercise. As soon as the wound has completely healed, I’ll add in some aqua therapy which is sort of running in a warmer swimming pool.
“You’re meant to sleep on your back for the first four to six weeks, which I have been able to do even though I usually sleep on my back and toss and turn. They say doctors don’t make good patients generally – I think because we tend to know too much and push the boundaries a little too much – but I’ve tried to adhere to what I was told and be a good patient. A patient patient. Though fortunately the downtime for hip surgery is not very much at all.
“I was treated like royalty…just like everybody else“
Dr Hilary Jones, hip replacement patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham
“I can’t fault the treatment I had. It was absolutely first class, and I felt I was treated like royalty. But at the same time, I know I was treated just like everybody else. I said to them, don’t assume I know anything. Just because I’m a doctor, treat me like any other patient, and I think that’s the right thing to do.”
“Every single person that looked after me at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham was amazing and couldn’t have done any more. I am delighted with the result so far and looking forward to getting about pain-free and getting back to work – helping patients rather than being one!”
