Treatment in EU

[fenultimate]

I am looking at possible hip replacement. Waiting list here (W Sussex) is long and Private Surgery horrendously expensive - �12,000+.
I have researched possibilities in EU in respected clinics in France, Belgium and Hungary. Along the line I have heard whispers that in certain circumstances I can reclaim a proportion of the cost from my local NHS PCT.
Considering the fees in the above countries are less that NHS PCT says it costs them to operate here, what are the facts?

[Ethel]

Have you seen this?

http://www.nhs.uk/Treatmentabroad/Pages/Planne dtreatment.aspx

[bednobs]

have you asked about waiting lists recently, or are you just assuming - i only ask because recently, all english pcts have had to sign up to "18 weeks" initiative. this means there should be no more than 18 weeks in between your docotr referng you to a consultant and you having your hip replacement. To reach these targets, pcts are sometimes giving treatment at local private hospitals. I dont know what you call a long waiting list but 18 weeks seems reasonable to me between referal and treatment.
With the advent of "free choice" you can also chose any hospital in england to be seen at - so you can chose the one with the smallest waiting list if that is important to you. - ie you could be seen in, say scarborough if they had a smaller waiting list

[bednobs]

also meant to say, if you want the facts from the horses mouths as it were, you can phone up your local PALS (patient advice and liaison service) who will let you know (number in the book, or on the website of the trust)

[fenultimate]

Thank you Ethel and Bednobs. These are early days and I am only at the X-ray stage. The 18 weeks is interesting, but someone has already told me that there are loopholes and this can be extended. 18 weeks = 4 months and that is still a long haul considering, in my case, I have gone from fit old fart to cripple in one month. Another factor worth consideration (for me) is the in-house infection rate at any hospital I choose to enter. I don't fancy chancing it with MRSA or C-difficile. I don't really care how far or near I go but I want to go somewhere with a good record in that respect.

[bednobs]

the 18 week "clock" starts from when the hospital receives the referral from your gp. There is only one thing that can stop it is if you are not physically or mentally ready for treatment (eg if you went to pre op clerking and they found you had a heart problem that needed sorting before a hip op) if you are only at an xray stage and havent even seen a consultant yet, your "clock" hasnt started yet. you may find you dont even need a hip replacement, or are not suitable becase of osteoporosis or something else, so i would recommend waiting and getting more info first.
With free choice, you can look at infection rates of all the hospitals too and chose by lowest rate. ps, do research: dont just belive what you read in the papers re infections

[fenultimate]

Thanks bednobs. You are right about newspapers and they are the last people I'd ask about scare stories!