Pain in your knees can be debilitating. It can even stop you from carrying out everyday chores and activities like driving, walking, and climbing the stairs. In some cases, knee pain can be so bad it disrupts your sleep. If you’ve been suffering from a painful knee, it may be time to think about surgery.
If you’re considering surgery as a genuine option, there are a few things to consider. What type of surgery do you need? Where will you look to have the procedure? How much will knee replacement surgery cost?
The following article examines knee replacement surgery costs and aims to shed light on how valuable it could be to you.
What’s the typical cost of knee replacement surgery in the UK?
Knee replacement cost in the UK depends on a number of factors. It’s free on the NHS but, post-pandemic, patients can expect longer wait times than usual. If you choose private treatment, the cost will depend on the following:
- your chosen healthcare provider
- the type of surgery needed
- the location of the hospital.
How much does it cost for private knee replacement surgery?
Private knee replacement costs are dependent on a number of factors. These include the location of the hospital, the type of surgery, and the chosen healthcare provider. As a guide price, you can expect to pay anything from £5,000-15,000 for your knee surgery.
At Practice Plus Group, our knee replacement surgery costs are among some of the lowest in the UK. Our knee replacement costs £11,200 (plus £95 for the consultation). This is around £2,000 cheaper than some of our closest competitors.
What is the cost of a total knee replacement?
The cost of a knee operation depends on the type of knee replacement needed. In the UK, the cost generally hovers between £10,000 – 11,000, however this can rise to as much as £15,400.
What is the cost of a partial knee replacement?
According to Private Healthcare UK, the average cost of partial knee replacement in the UK is £11,106. This average is similar to that of total knee replacements, however the maximum expected costs for partial knee replacement is around £11,500.
Partial knee replacements also had the greatest certainty of being cost effective. This was when they were performed on people aged over 60. It is important to note that partial knee replacements are not a substitute for total knee replacements. Please consult your doctor for more information on the procedures.
Are knee replacements worth it?
If you’re suffering from the signs you need a knee replacement, it’s best to seek advice from your doctor. There are alternatives to knee replacement that your doctor may recommend. However, if left untreated, you run the risk of developing the following problems:
- weakened muscles and ligaments of the knee
- deformity of the area outside the knee joint
- limited mobility due to chronic knee pain and loss of function
- continued degeneration of the knee joint
- reduced success rate of any future surgery.
Aside from the high success rates for knee replacement surgery, there are many other benefits for patients to enjoy. Improved mobility and stability can allow you to return to some of the activities you enjoyed before your injury. The other big, long term advantage an artificial joint can provide is simply being able to enjoy a better quality of life. Knee surgery can help reduce pain while increasing your ability to move about with more freedom. This is also likely to have a positive effect on your mental health and wellbeing.
What are the benefits of a private knee replacement?
The main benefit of private knee surgery is the reduced waiting time. The NHS currently aims to get patients into surgery within 18 weeks of their consultation. However, the COVID pandemic has meant that some patients are facing greatly increased waiting times.
In some cases, patients have found the wait for knee surgery has greatly increased, with some waiting for well over a year for the procedure.
The current waiting time at Practice Plus Group private hospital is between two and four weeks.
At Practice Plus Group, we follow the Enhanced Recovery Pathway (ERP). This is a modern, evidence-based approach that helps people reduce their recovery process time following major surgery. The ERP champions the many advantages of day surgery knee replacement. With this support, you will be mobile enough to go home one or two days after your operation. Some people are able to return home on the day of surgery.
What’s included in the cost of my knee operation?
At Practice Plus Group, you’ll need to pay £95 for your pre-operative consultation. This carries no obligation and includes x-rays of your knee and a consultation with a dedicated surgeon. If you wish to proceed from there, knee surgery costs £11,200.
As mentioned previously, the procedure may include a hospital stay. However, Practice Plus Group follows the Enhanced Recovery Pathway method which, in some cases, allows patients to return home on the day of their surgery.
How to pay for your knee surgery
At Practice Plus Group we offer a number of different options for you to access high-quality healthcare. These are: self-pay, insured and via the NHS.
Self-pay
If you want to pay for yourself, we offer high-quality, consultant-delivered self-pay healthcare to suit you. Our expert surgeons and state-of-the-art facilities will get you the treatment you need.
Does insurance cover knee surgery?
We also offer the ability to let your health insurance cover the cost of your knee surgery. A full list of approved insurance companies and more information can be found on our Insured patients page.
NHS
NHS treatment is available through Practice Plus Group in three easy steps:
- GP consultation
- GP referral
- treatment.
Before deciding on this treatment path, make sure you’re aware that you have the right to choose where you receive treatment. You’ll also need to ensure you’re comfortable with the potential waiting times in your chosen area.
How to choose a provider
While choosing the right provider for you can seem like an overwhelming task, there are a few things you can do to make it easier. Finding a doctor with the right level of experience and expertise for the type of treatment you need is a good start. You should also do some research with regards to ratings and reviews. If one provider has received a host of negative reviews, it might be best to give them a miss.
Location is another important factor to consider. Some providers may offer state-of-the-art treatment with excellent doctors, but if they don’t have hospital facilities in locations suitable for you, opting for their services may not be the best option.
How do I get started?
If you’d like to go ahead and choose Practice Plus Group for your knee replacement surgery, the first thing you’ll need to do is book in for a consultation. You’ll be seen by a dedicated consultant and have the opportunity to ask about your upcoming treatment.