Nhs Waiting Times

[davebro]

A friend aged about 60 saw a consultant a couple of weeks ago - had scans etc. & has been scheduled for a hip replacement "before Xmas". I have seen in the news etc. that folks wait years for such ops. Is it the case that younger patients get prioritised over the more elderly?

[emmie]

i very much doubt it. I am on the older spectrum and have waited a year for my operation.

[emmie]

why would younger people get preferential treatment. anyway 60 isn't that young, and also it might be they had a cancellation so could slot them in.

[davebro]

I was just surprised that he was being dealt with so expeditiously & wondered if it was because he is a bit younger than some & still working. Happy for him of course but would not like to think that ageism is at work.

[davebro]

Of course ops DO sometimes get delayed so he might not get it as planned. My gall bladder was cancelled 4 times!

[chanel5]

I think it very much depends on severity of the condition.
I was told I would have to wait a very long time for a hip replacement because my arthritis, although painful, had not reached a critical stage and I was able to get around with the help of painkillers.
My friend, who had scans etc around the same time as me, was scheduled for a replacement within months, because her hip had degenerated to such an extent that she was unable to walk and to ignore her condition could have meant a greater social and financial burden both on her and on society.
It makes sense to me.

[piggynose]

There´s a tear in my beer - Hank Williams.

[piggynose]

whoops wrong thread!
mind you how did i get there?

[ladybirder]

A lot depends on the area you live in. I am old and when it was thought I had lung cancer I was being operated on within about 10 weeks. Brilliant.

[furrypusscat]

I saw my Gp a few weeks ago re waiting list for hip replacement fully expecting it to be 2 years. He said it would be 12 months. I was referred to specialist to my chosen hospital, received a phone call from the hospital two days later, received a date for pre op assessment which was 2 weeks ago and was told by consultant there was a slight chance it could be this side Christmas. I have confirmed date, 29th December which will be exactly 6 weeks after seeing consultant and 10 weeks after seeing Gp. I was shocked to say the least. That is NHS not private and is a hospital that only deals with joint replacements. The only chance it may be cancelled is if the nursing staff strike.
I think the waiting list times vary and depends on whether you are prepared and able to travel.

[Sqad]

Sorry dave, with that information, I find the situation inexplicable unless the catch is .."which Christmas?"

Prioritisation is on clinical needs rather than age.

[Sqad]

Ladybirder.

////I am old and when it was thought I had lung cancer I was being operated on within about 10 weeks. Brilliant.////

Depends on what you had done, if it was an endoscopy then 10 weeks is not so brilliant, in fact it is unacceptable.
If your chest was opened, then almost a 3 month wait is also unacceptable.

Only in the NHS would a 3 month wait for possible cancer confirmation would be described as "brilliant."

[davebro]

LOL - I think he's hoping it's THIS Xmas as he has cancelled a holiday he had booked & lost his air fare!

[Sqad]

LOL.

[dave50]

Of course to some extent younger people should get priority treatment over old people. For example a twenty five year old with a young family should be before and eighty year old who is in their twilight years. It makes sense.

[furrypusscat]

As joint replacements tend to have a lifespan of around 20 years, it was always suggested that a patient should be in their 60/70's so that only one joint replacement was needed as further replacements tended not to be as successful. Obviously if a younger person was so disabled that replacement was necessary then yes they should have it sooner rather than later.

[Peter Pedant]

I am not sure how the queue works
I was refused a hip replacement and waited for two years ( NOT on a list)
saw the orthopod who did me within a few months

[Peter Pedant]

only one joint replacement was needed as further replacements tended not to be as successful.

the past history and how long they last has been willdly skewed by themuch vaunted ( but not vaunted now) McMinn hemiarthorplasty, which was touted as bone sparing, easy, quick and amenable to operation

and failed in 20% , and had awful reoperation problems

not done now

(think of my brudda - imagine a splattered hip. - post op - still splattered but with added wire decoration)

https://www.orthobullets.com/recon/5013/tha-periprosthetic-fracture

[roopower]

I've been waiting to see a member of the orthopaedic team about my hip since the beginning of July. Waiting time was average of nine weeks on the website, now gone up to 19 . Goodness knows how long I'll have to wait for an operation.

[ladybirder]

Good job I didn't know that at the time sqad. I'd have been fuming;-)