I had a hip replacement last year and I have had to use a walking stick ever since. My operation was carried out on the NHS but was done at a private hospital.
I now need ‘revision surgery’ which I think is a new hip – I am more convinced now that the original surgery was not done properly and I want to take action as I need another operation and I am in pain much of the time. Can you help me?
It is becoming apparent that some of the operations done by private hospitals for the NHS on the so called ‘fast track’ initiative have not been up to standard.
‘The Times’ last week (18 January 2007) ran an article which stated that according to a leaked Healthcare Commission report ‘Patients underwent an unknown number of botched, cancelled or mismanaged operations ‘and ‘patient safety may have been compromised’.
It seems there was a lack of information kept with regard to the number and outcome of operations performed so it is not known for sure, how successful treatment has been.
The British Orthopaedic Association has ‘attacked the quality of the surgeons hired and said that there was inadequate follow-up for patients suffering complications’ according to The Times.
Anecdotally, there has been wide spread criticism, with a number of patients such as yourself, requiring ‘revision surgery’ to replace part or all of the hip prosthesis.
I would strongly advise you to seek legal advice at this stage – if you need a new hip prosthesis this would indicate the first was not appropriate for you.
