Until recently, Linda Hand, 58, couldn’t imagine putting up her Christmas decorations as joint pain in her hip and knees had become unbearable. Last Christmas had been plagued with joint pain and a wasted ski trip as hitting the slopes was out of the question. To avoid another blighted Christmas, Linda made the decision to travel two hours from her home in Stamford, Lincolnshire, to our hospital in Barlborough after being told she’d wait up to four years on the NHS for a hip replacement.
“I’m so glad I decided to pay for my surgery privately at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough. Everything went so well and the hospital staff were incredible.”
Linda Hand, hip replacement patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough
“Following successful hip replacement surgery at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough, my husband and I have spent the weekend decorating our home ‘Scandi-Christmas style’ inside and out – which would have been impossible possible before my op. I’m half Swedish and like to decorate our home traditionally.
“Last January we had a disastrous skiing holiday with friends, as joint pain prevented me even hitting the slopes. My pain had been increasing for about five years and I felt enough was enough. I went to see my GP and he offered me x-rays in my knees and steroid injections. Whilst my knees saw improvement, my right hip became agony and I was sent for further x-rays. It was then that my doctor revealed my right hip was “bone on bone” and I’d need replacement surgery – though I should expect to wait 18 months to four years on the NHS due to my age and waiting lists in the area.
“I was very depressed. I couldn’t work, I couldn’t drive or walk due to excruciating hip pain. Seeing how broken the NHS is and how long I would have to wait for a hip replacement, I felt hopeless. At 58, I was starting to think of myself as just getting old and resigning myself to a life of pain waiting for surgery. It was then that my husband said we should look to pay privately so I could start working again and feel back to my usual active self.
“I was very depressed. I couldn’t work, I couldn’t drive or walk due to excruciating hip pain…it was then my husband said we should look to pay privately so I could feel back to my usual active self.”
Linda Hand, Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough hip replacement patient
“I’m a self-employed property surveyor and run my own business, The House Surveyor in Lincolnshire, my job involves crawling around in lofts and climbing ladders which was impossible with hip pain and limited mobility. In September, I felt I had no choice but to begin researching private surgery options, as everyday not working meant no income.
“After some research, a local private hospital in Lincolnshire seemed out of reach financially. It also still had a four month wait for hip surgery – which would have meant another difficult Christmas. I’d heard you could go to France or Poland for cheaper surgery, but there was no way I was risking going abroad. Then fate took hold when a flyer for Wellsoon from Practice Plus Group came through my door! Although the hospital was two hours from home, it offered more affordable surgery and said I could be treated within six weeks.
“I called the patient helpline and paid £95 for a consultation with Mr Lovasz the consultant at their nearest hospital in Barlborough a week later and was very impressed and his online reviews were really good. Even though it was a two-hour drive from home, I felt this was my best option to get expert care sooner.
“The pre-op assessment confirmed I would need a total hip replacement and I was told I could have the op six weeks later in October. Though as luck would have it, I was offered a cancellation appointment and was booked in for surgery on 25th September, just two and a half weeks after the initial hip replacement consultation, and three-months till Christmas!
“As luck would have it, I was offered a cancellation appointment and booked in for surgery just two and half weeks after the initial consultation, and three months till Christmas!”
Linda Hand, Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough hip replacement patient
“I’m so glad I decided to pay for my surgery privately at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough. Everything went so well and the hospital staff were incredible. I stayed in over-night and my husband booked into a hotel down the road from the hospital so he was on hand as I was feeling quite anxious. I needn’t have worried, as the staff were fantastic and really put me at ease.
“I’m now 10 weeks into my hip replacement recovery and really looking forward to Christmas. This weekend we put up our decorations inside and outside the house which last year left me feeling completely exhausted and in agony. We were able to put the tree and all of my traditional Scandi decorations up in a day – and still have enough energy for a lovely festive drink with the neighbours after.
“This is the second married Christmas for my husband and I, and we want to be able to enjoy fully. Last year it was full of pain, plus our new year ski trip didn’t go well and left us feeling disappointed. I now feel like me again and I’m so grateful to Mr Lovasz and the team at Practice Plus Group for everything.
“We are by no means rich and paying for surgery was a big consideration, but I am so glad we went for it! I’m now earning again, which I wouldn’t have been had I not paid to have surgery sooner. Plus, my husband and I can now look forward to all the activities we love and a lovely Christmas with our family and friends.”
