Which private hospitals in Somerset perform knee replacements?

As the sixth largest county in England, Somerset is home to a host of healthcare providers able to carry out knee replacement surgery. The question is: which is the best one for you?

There are a few things to consider when choosing a hospital. First, you should think about the location:

• how close is it to you?
• is it going to be easy for you to get there?
• how accessible is it?

We’ve included a helpful map below that shows all the NHS and private hospitals in Somerset. 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, Shepton Mallet and Practice Plus Group Medical Centre, Frome.

Waiting times for knee replacement in Somerset

If you’re having knee surgery in Somerset with the NHS, the current waiting time will vary depending on which hospital you attend. For example, the current NHS waiting times for knee replacement at the NHS Somerset Foundation Trust hospital is nearly 11 months from initial consultation to surgery.¹

At Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet, the waiting time for knee replacement surgery is just 4-6 weeks from your initial consultation.

Why choose our Somerset hospitals for your knee operation?

For us, the answer is simple: we put our patients at the heart of everything we do. From our honest, transparent pricing to our top-quality healthcare professionals, providing our patients with the very best healthcare experience possible is our number one priority.

Treatments available

Surgery in Shepton Mallet doesn’t begin and end with knee replacements. From hips to hernias, Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet has got you covered.

Facilities

Along with state-of-the-art medical equipment, our hospital also offers:

• free parking
• free wifi, TV and phone calls
• award winning on-site cafe for fresh meals
• single en-suite room or a same-sex shared en-suite room
• a relaxing, comfortable environment.

Consultants and care

As with any county in the UK, Somerset boasts plenty of talented and capable orthopaedic consultants able to carry out your treatment.

Our Consultants page provides more information. Alternatively, take a look at our guide to the best knee replacement surgeons, or, if that’s not quite answering the question, have a flick through the consultants carousel below.

Somerset knee surgery success stories

Don’t just take our word for it, why not have a listen to what our patients have to say?

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What to expect during knee replacement surgery in Somerset

We’ve covered the facilities, waiting times, and consultants. Now, it’s time to take a closer look at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet.

Your consultation

So, first up is the initial consultation. During this, you’ll meet your dedicated orthopaedic surgeon and anaesthetist. They will carry out a pre-operative assessment of you which will likely include x-rays of the affected knee.

This consultation represents an opportunity to talk about your general health and medical history, ask questions, and prepare yourself for the procedure. Once the clinician has assessed you, you’ll be given a date for surgery.

Preparing for surgery

A trip to hospital entails a lot of preparation. There’s the travel arrangements, what you need to wear, what you should and shouldn’t eat and drink beforehand, to name but a few. Luckily, we’ve put together a guide featuring the top tips for preparing for surgery for you to flick through at your leisure.

The joint replacement procedure

When you’re in theatre and prepped, you’ll be given a general anaesthetic. This means you’ll be asleep during the procedure. During the surgery itself, the worn ends of the bones in your knee joint are removed and replaced with metal and plastic parts. This is called a prosthesis which is specially made to fit your knee. The type of surgery you have (total or partial replacement) will depend on how damaged your knee is.

Private knee replacement surgery (also called knee arthroplasty) is 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.

Care and recovery

Knee replacement surgery recovery takes place initially in hospital, but the majority is at home. Practice Plus Group champions the Enhanced Recovery Pathway (ERP) approach, which is designed to speed up your recovery. Once out of theatre, you’ll be closely monitored and encouraged to mobilise as soon as it’s deemed safe.

When you return home, you’ll likely feel quite tired for the first few weeks. Pain relief (analgesia), ice packs, elevation and a programme of rehabilitation are normal. By 10 to 12 weeks most patients are doing well, though knee replacements often improve for up to 18 months after surgery.

Potential risks and complications

As with any major operation, knee replacement surgery carries risks. For example, there can be side effects of confusion and sickness from the anaesthesia. On occasion, there can also be complications after the operation involving blood supply. A very small number of patients have developed blood clots in their legs or lungs.

Your consultant will discuss any concerns you have about potential risks and complications during your consultation.

Private knee operation costs in Somerset

In the table below, we’ve put together a few stats and figures to give you an idea of the cost of knee replacement in Somerset.

Ways to pay

There are three ways to access hip replacement at Practice Plus Group:

• Self-pay private healthcare
• Private health insurance
• NHS referral.

Find a local knee surgeon in Somerset

Finding the best hip and knee replacement surgeons in Somerset doesn’t need to be difficult. Meet our experienced consultant orthopaedic surgeons at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet. Our consistency of care sees your consultant-led treatment team supporting you from start to finish, making your visit as comfortable as possible.

How to book your knee surgery at Practice Plus Group Hospital in Somerset

If you are paying for your own treatment you can self-refer. This means you won’t necessarily need to make a GP appointment beforehand. Simply ring our Private Patient Advisors on 0330 822 6530 to find out what your options are. Once your referral is dealt with, our friendly staff will book you in.

Sources and references

¹ https://www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk/swest/somerset/specialty/?sname=Orthopaedics

Acknowledgements