How much do private knee replacements cost in the UK?
The following article examines knee replacement surgery costs and aims to shed light on how valuable it could be to you.
Pain in your knees can be debilitating. It can even stop you from carrying out everyday chores and activities like driving, walking, and climbing the stairs. In some cases, knee pain can be so bad it disrupts your sleep. If you’ve been suffering from a painful knee, it may be time to think about surgery.
If you’re considering surgery as a genuine option, there are a few things to consider. What type of surgery do you need? Where will you look to have the procedure? How much will knee replacement surgery cost? This blog aims to compare and contrast costs with the competition.
What’s the typical cost of knee replacement surgery in the UK?
According to MyTribe, as of August 2023, the average cost of private knee replacement in the UK is £14,4491.
Knee replacement prices in the UK depend on a number of factors. It’s free on the NHS but, post-pandemic, patients can expect longer wait times than usual. If you choose private treatment, the cost will depend on the following:
your chosen healthcare provider
the type of surgery needed
the location of the hospital.
What is the cost of knee replacement privately?
As a guide price, you can expect to pay anything from £10,000-15,000 for your knee surgery. Private surgery costsfor knee replacement are dependent on a number of factors. These include the location of the hospital, the type of surgery, and the chosen healthcare provider.
Knee replacement prices at Practice Plus Group
At Practice Plus Group, our private knee replacement surgery costs are among some of the lowest in the UK. Our knee replacement costs from £11,799 plus £95 for the consultation. This is around £2,000 cheaper than some of our closest competitors.
Compare knee replacement surgery costs in the UK
Healthcare provider
Consultation fee
Price of knee replacement surgery
Total
Practice Plus Group
£95
£11,799
£11,894
Nuffield Health
from £220
£16,820
£17,040
Spire Health
unknown
£15,995
from £15,995
What’s included in our knee operation costs?
At Practice Plus Group, you’ll need to pay £95 for your pre-operative consultation. This carries no obligation and includes a review of your medical history, X-rays of your knee and a consultation with a dedicated consultant orthopaedic surgeon. If you wish to proceed from there, knee surgery costs from £11,799.
The procedure may include a hospital stay. However, Practice Plus Group follows the Enhanced Recovery Pathway method which, in some cases, allows patients to return home on the day of their surgery.
What do the costs cover?
hospital stay (if necessary)
consultation tests (X-rays if necessary)
post-surgery physiotherapy
any equipment needed post-surgery such as walking aids.
How to pay for your knee surgery
At Practice Plus Group we offer a number of different options for you to access high-quality healthcare. These are: self-pay, insured and via the NHS.
Self-pay
If you want to pay for yourself, we offer high-quality, consultant-delivered consultant-delivered self-pay healthcare to suit you. Our expert surgeons and state-of-the-art facilities will get you the treatment you need.
Does insurance cover knee surgery?
We also offer the ability to let your health insurance cover the cost of your knee surgery. A full list of approved insurance companies and more information can be found on our Insured patients page.
Covering the cost with flexible finance options
If you want to pay for your surgery and are looking for alternatives to a one-off payment, our finance options could be the solution. We offer a 12 month plan at 0% APR or longer-term options, all at 14.9% APR.
Before deciding on this treatment path, make sure you’re aware that you have the right to choose where you receive treatment. You’ll also need to ensure you’re comfortable with the potential waiting times in your chosen area.
Hear from our expert: “We strive to ensure all our patients receive the very best care from our wealth of experience and expertise.”
If you’re suffering from the signs you need a knee replacement, it’s best to seek advice from your doctor. There are alternatives to knee replacement that your doctor may recommend. However, if left untreated, you run the risk of developing the following problems:
weakened muscles and ligaments of the knee
deformity of the area outside the knee joint
limited mobility due to chronic knee pain and loss of function
continued degeneration of the knee joint
reduced success rate of any future surgery.
Aside from the high success rates for knee replacement surgery, there are many other benefits for patients to enjoy. Improved mobility and stability can allow you to return to some of the activities you enjoyed before your injury.
The other big, long term advantage an artificial knee joint can provide is simply being able to enjoy a better quality of life. Knee surgery can help reduce pain while increasing your ability to move about with more freedom. This is also likely to have a positive effect on your mental health and wellbeing.
Pain in your knee?
If you’re experiencing knee pain, try our knee suitability quiz. It will give you an idea of whether you’d benefit from booking a consultation with one of our knee specialists.
What are the benefits of a private knee replacement?
The main benefit of private knee surgery is the reduced waiting time. The NHS currently aims to get patients into surgery within 18 weeks of their consultation. However, the COVID pandemic has meant that some patients are facing greatly increased NHS waiting times.
In some cases, patients have found the wait for knee surgery has greatly increased, with some waiting for well over a year for the procedure.
The current waiting time at Practice Plus Group private hospital is between two and four weeks.
At Practice Plus Group, we follow the Enhanced Recovery Pathway (ERP). This is a modern, evidence-based approach that helps people reduce their recovery process time following major surgery.
The ERP champions the many advantages of day surgery knee replacement. With this support, you will be mobile enough to go home one or two days after your operation. Some people are able to return home on the day of surgery.
While choosing the right provider for you can seem like an overwhelming task, there are a few things you can do to make it easier. Finding a doctor with the right level of experience and expertise for the type of treatment you need is a good start. You should also do some research with regards to ratings and reviews. If one provider has received a host of negative reviews, it might be best to give them a miss.
Location is another important factor to consider. Some providers may offer state-of-the-art treatment with excellent doctors, but if they don’t have hospital facilities in locations suitable for you, opting for their services may not be the best option.
Patient testimonial
“Absolutely brilliant experience for my wife who recently underwent knee replacement surgery. From diagnosis to surgery and nursing care, the staff have been exceptional throughout.”
Neil Palmer, partner of Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth knee replacement patient
If you’d like to go ahead and choose Practice Plus Group for your knee replacement surgery, the first thing you’ll need to do is book in for an initial consultation. You’ll be seen by a dedicated consultant and have the opportunity to ask about your upcoming treatment.
If you still haven’t found the information you’re looking for, perhaps our dedicated knee replacement cost FAQs can help!
What is the cost of a full or total knee replacement?
The cost of a knee replacement operation depends on the type of knee replacement needed. In the UK, the cost is typically somewhere between £10,000 – 15,000, however this can rise to as much as £18,000.
What is the cost of a partial knee replacement?
According to Private Healthcare UK, the average cost of partial knee replacement in the UK is £11,106. This average is similar to that of total knee replacement surgery, however the maximum expected costs for partial knee replacement is around £11,500. Partial knee replacements also had the greatest certainty of being cost effective. This was when they were performed on people aged over 60. It is important to note that partial knee replacements are not a substitute for total knee replacements. Please consult your doctor for more information on the procedures.
How much is keyhole surgery in the UK?
Keyhole knee surgery tends to be a little cheaper than total knee replacement. Currently, in the UK, private keyhole knee surgery costs between £4,500 – £7,000.
How much does the NHS pay for knee replacement?
Knee replacement is free on the NHS. Unfortunately, this comes with a rather large caveat: the waiting time. Currently, the waiting time for NHS Orthopaedic treatment in England is around six months2. This varies depending on location.
Acknowledgements
This article was completed with the help of Mr Nurul Ahad, Medical Director and Orthopaedic Surgeon at Practice Plus Group. Mr Ahad graduated from Barts and the London School of Medicine before being appointed Trauma Consultant at Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals in 2010. His expertise has led to several publications and international presentations.
With over 15 years of experience in orthopaedic surgery, he has a proven track record of delivering an excellent quality of service.
Over the last few years Practice Plus Group has grown its Marketing Team to include art workers, campaign and social media managers, content editors, and digital analysts. Together, they provide a responsive and comprehensive service, ensuring all content is on-brand and in-line with relevant medical guidelines.
I had a knee replacement in May 2022. I have to say that all of the staff from the consultant, the nursing staff and the entire team were absolutely wonderful.
by Susan Farmer
Knee surgery, Barlborough – amazing facility
This was my 2nd time as an inpatient at Barlborough for knee replacement surgery and in my opinion you couldn’t have this surgery at a better place. It is truly outstanding.
by Joy Lesley Wright
Knee surgery, Emersons Green – friendly and highly professional
October 2020 I had total knee replacement, NHS referral. My experience was excellent…everyone was caring, listening and very professional.
by Anonymous
Knee surgery – from start to finish my treatment by all was amazing
I had a Partial Knee Replace at this hospital on the NHS. From start to finish my treatment by all was amazing. I cannot praise the care I had enough. The nurses are so friendly and caring. The hospital was very clean. A good choice of food. Highly recommend.
by Audrey Hartley, Google
Knee surgery, Plymouth – leading an active life once again
Thanks for performing total knee replacement on me. Due to your excellent skills I am improving daily and leading an active life once again!
by Chris Roberts
Knee surgery, Barlborough – one day knee replacement
It was fantastic: it all went very well and I was delighted that I had the opportunity to have surgery and be back home the same day. Everyone feels better recovering in their own home. Having met the team, I knew they were kind, professional and supportive. I was relaxed and confident about the surgery and looking forward to being pain-free.
by Adrian Roke
Knee surgery – so much care and compassion
I recently had a total knee replacement operation at Shepton Mallett hospital, and there are not enough words to describe what an amazing place it is.
Everyone I came into contact with from the beginning of my referral has been so positive. So much care and compassion, I cannot thank you all enough you are all angels.
