Janet Lovell, 73, from the Isle of Wight, expected to wait for around a year for an NHS hip replacement after experiencing excruciating pain caused by osteoarthritis.
“I was able to have my surgery quickly, within a matter of weeks…I don’t think enough people realise they have a legal right to choose where to have their treatment.”
Janet Lovell, Practice Plus Group Hospital, Southampton hip patient
But then due to Covid backlogs the waiting list just got longer and longer. When her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s she needed to be fit and well to care for him, but was in so much pain she needed a wheelchair to go anywhere.
Janet said: “I’m a very practical person and just get on with it, but looking after my husband was much harder being in pain and sleep deprived.”
She chose to go private with Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group, Southampton, having the op in April of last year.
“The operation made such a difference…and caring for Martin (Janet’s husband) became much easier.”
Janet Lovell, Practice Plus Group Hospital, Southampton hip replacement patient
Janet added: “I was able to have my surgery quickly, within a matter of weeks, and the operation made such a difference to both our lives and caring for Martin became much easier – however I still had pain from the other hip which also needed replacing.
“I had realised by then that Practice Plus Group also treats NHS patients, so I asked my GP to refer me there, where the wait would be shorter than my local NHS hospital, and had my other hip done last October.
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“I really don’t think enough people realise that they have a legal right to choose where to have their NHS treatment and that they can find shorter waits.
“Now, I can sleep well and get around, keep myself fit and healthy and look after my husband.”
