Knee replacement in Bristol – a patient guide

Where can you get private knee surgery in Bristol?

Bristol boasts a long list of healthcare providers that can carry out knee replacement surgery. The question is: which is the best one for you?

When choosing a hospital, you should first consider the location. How close is it to you? Is it going to be easy for you to get there? How accessible is it?

The map below highlights all the hospitals in the Bristol area. It should give you an idea of which one is going to best serve you from a location perspective. The purple pin indicates the location of Practice Plus Group Hospital, Emersons Green.

At Practice Plus Group Hospital, Emersons Green, we are easily accessible from the east and north via the M4.

The M3, M3X, Y1, and 49 buses also stop at the Willy Wicket pub or Emerald Park. Both are within a 10 minute walk of the hospital.

If you’re travelling from Wales, you may be eligible for our transport help service. Please call 0330 053 6441 for more details.

Knee replacement surgery costs in Bristol

At Practice Plus Group, we pride ourselves on offering all our self-pay and insured patients transparent and honest pricing. With us, there are no hidden costs, catches, or charges. Take a look at the table below to see how we stack up against other local private healthcare providers:

What’s included?

The price you see is the price you pay. For knee replacement surgery at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Emersons Green, this comes to £12,544. This includes any basic tests you might need in the initial consultation to diagnose your condition. It will also cover any necessary post-op medication and physiotherapy to get you back on your feet. If you need to stay with us overnight don’t worry – these costs are already covered!

Paying for yourself

If you plan to pay for yourself, this can be done in a single, one-off transaction. You might have money stashed away in savings or put aside for times like these. Either way, if you choose this option, you’ll get fast access to high-quality healthcare.

Using health insurance

Some private health insurance plans may cover part or all of the costs associated with your knee replacement. It’s worth checking with your provider to understand your coverage and taking a look at our list of approved insurance providers.

Finance options

If you want to pay for yourself but don’t happen to have the best part of £12,000 lying around, there’s no need to worry. As part of our commitment to making healthcare accessible, we’ve introduced finance options. This means you can spread the cost of your treatment over time to make it more manageable.

Why wait for your MRI scan?

Refer yourself now for fast access to a private MRI scan at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Emersons Green!

• No GP referral needed
• Free onsite parking
• Results within 7 days

Bristol waiting times for knee replacement

If you’re having knee surgery in Bristol with the NHS, the current waiting time is around six months from your initial appointment.

At Practice Plus Group Hospital, Emersons Green, the waiting time for knee replacement surgery is just four-to-six weeks from your initial consultation.

Finding the best knee surgeons in Bristol

Choosing a knee replacement surgeon can seem like a tricky task. However, with our wide network of first-class knee specialists in Bristol, you won’t be looking for long. To help you narrow down your search, you can use our website to filter by treatment, location, and language to browse our Bristol-based consultant orthopaedic surgeons.

Surgeon Q&A

Patient question: How long does knee replacement surgery take?

Surgeon answer: Typically between 1-3 hours depending on the severity of the injury and the patient’s specific need.

Patient question: How long will my knee replacement last?

Surgeon answer: Your artificial knee joint will last for around 10-15 years depending on the success of your recovery and how active you are.

Patient question: How long will it take to recover?

Surgeon answer: Everyone recovers at different speeds. If you attend all of your physiotherapy sessions and follow the advice of your consultant, you should be able to resume everyday household chores after a few weeks. Full recovery will take a while, potentially up to 12 months.

Are there any NHS knee surgeons in Bristol?

There are indeed! In fact, plenty. NHS Trust North Bristol even features a consultant A-Z list. If you wish to go down the NHS route for your knee replacement surgery, be aware that waiting times are long. Currently, NHS Trust North Bristol has a waiting list of nearly six months.

Knee operations at Emersons Green, Bristol

Right, so you’ve decided to come aboard. First, it’s great to have you on the good ship Practice Plus Group. Second, it’s about time we gave you some details on your upcoming experience with us. Take a look below for more information on what to expect.

Location and how to get there

Practice Plus Group Hospital, Emersons Green is located to the north-east of Bristol, off M4 junction 19.

The M3, M3X, Y1, and 49 buses also stop at the Willy Wicket pub or Emerald Park. Both are within a 10 minute walk of the hospital.

If you’re travelling from Wales, you may be eligible for our transport help service. Please call 0330 053 6441 for more details.

Who is accepted for treatment?

As long as you’re eligible for surgery, you’ll be accepted for treatment. You will need to consider how you want to access your surgery. This is done either through self-pay, insurance, or the NHS. You should bear in mind that patients cannot mix and match their treatment pathways – or, in English, you can’t start off as a self-pay patient and then switch to the NHS for your treatment.

Procedures and treatments offered

At Practice Plus Group Hospital, Emersons Green, we don’t just offer knee replacement treatment. In fact, you can benefit from the following knee-related procedures:

• Anterior cruciate ligament surgery
• Knee arthroscopy
• Bursa removal surgery
• Complex knee surgery
• Surgical pin removal
• Ultrasound-guided injection (in clinic)

Preparing for your knee replacement surgery

Knee replacement surgery isn’t just a one-stop shop. We’re here to guide you every step of the way. From when you receive your treatment plan, to making travel arrangements for the big day, to what you should wear, our preparing for surgery guide will give you all the information you need.

Your consultation

During your initial consultation, your consultant will need to get to the bottom of your issue and give you a diagnosis. To do this, he or she may need to perform certain tests and ask about your medical history. This is all included in the £95 consultation fee and there’s no obligation for you to progress to treatment.

During the procedure

The majority of knee replacement patients receive a spinal anaesthetic. This means you won’t be able to feel anything from the waist down, but don’t worry, your feeling will return after the surgery. During the surgery itself, the worn ends of the bones in your knee joint are removed and replaced with metal and plastic parts. The type of surgery you have (total or partial replacement) will depend on how damaged your knee is.

Knee replacements are called knee arthroplasty and are a resurfacing procedure. In osteoarthritis, trauma and inflammatory arthritis, the smooth, low-friction, cartilage that cushions the joint is lost. In knee replacement surgery the damaged surfaces are removed and the thigh bone surface is covered with a smooth metal dome.

The shin bone surface is covered with a metal tray. A medical-grade plastic spacer is then fitted which functions as the smooth bearing surface on which the bone glides. The patella can also be resurfaced with a plastic button.

Recovering from knee surgery

Following knee replacement surgery, you’ll be encouraged to mobilise as soon as possible. If the surgeon deems you ready, you may even be able to return home on the same day. For some, this is the reality but for others, a short hospital stay is needed. If you need to stay in hospital, our specialist nursing team will be on-hand to support you.

Once you return home, a period of rest and recovery is on the cards. You’ll be issued with painkillers and you should make every effort to attend physiotherapy sessions. These are all part of what you’ve paid for and play a huge role in successfully recovering from a knee replacement.

Knee operation after care in Bristol

Leaving our Emersons Green hospital after your operation isn’t the end of your healthcare journey with us. Your aftercare is just as important as your surgery, and as such, you’ll be given a post-op treatment plan to help with your recovery. This will include pain medication to help handle any discomfort, a physiotherapy plan detailing time with a specialist and specific exercises to do, and any walking aids or supports necessary.

Pain in your knee?

If you’re experiencing knee pain, try out knee suitability quiz. It will give you an idea of whether you’d benefit from booking a consultation with one of our knee specialists.

Why choose Practice Plus Group for your knee surgery?

Quite simply, we put our patients at the heart of everything we do. From our transparent pricing to our top-quality healthcare professionals, providing you with the very best healthcare experience possible is our number one priority.

Facilities

We have 10 hospitals and surgical centres dotted across the UK, so you’re unlikely to ever be too far from a Practice Plus Group facility. Practice Plus Group Hospital, Emersons Green (previously known as Emersons Green NHS Treatment Centre) boasts a 100% clean record for hospital acquired infections. We’re rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and are open 6am-9pm Monday-Friday and 6am-6pm Saturdays.

Success rate

In April 2024, 95.8% of 987 Practice Plus Group Hospital, Emersons Green patients surveyed rated the service they received as “Good”.

Care

We strive to provide our patients with the best healthcare experience possible. But don’t just take our word for it! Take a look at the words of some of our Emersons Green patients below.

“I had excellent care throughout my stay and everything matched or exceeded my expectations. I am glad I had the op and the certainty of a set fee made it less worrying. I would recommend Practice Plus at Emersons Green to anyone else who can afford not to wait for an NHS operation.”

Amanda May, Practice Plus Group Hospital, Emersons Green knee replacement patient

How to book knee replacement surgery in Bristol

If you want to be free from pain in your knee and suspect that surgery might be the answer, give our Private Patient Care team a call today on 0333 060 5584.

Alternatively, fill out our quick and simple online enquiry form and let us get back to you.

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