My dad, along with almost 400,000 others, has been waiting for a knee replacement on the NHS for over a year [1]. This wait has caused numerous complications for him, as originally he was only going to need a partial knee replacement. Now a full knee replacement is required, which will drastically increase recovery time, pain levels, complications and the cost of the procedure on the NHS [2].

Partial knee replacements have been shown to improve quality of life and could of saved almost £2000 on the NHS over my dad’s lifetime if they acted sooner [2]. If we were to go private, a full knee replacement would cost around £14,000 [1]. This amount of money is unfeasible for a lot of UK citizens, especially since the cost-of-living crisis. But for those who cant pay up, they have to suffer with degradation of health and lifestyle.

Knee replacement surgery is rapidly developing, but is only accessible to those paying privately. By choosing NHS, you will lose access to using CT Scans to create 3D images of the patients knee, having assisting robotics in surgery and less invasive procedures. All of these have the potential to decrease recovery time and increase surgery success [1]. I believe the NHS should offer a partial payment service for those undergoing knee replacement, as some individuals who cannot afford £14,000 for private may still like to pay extra for more modern materials or procedures in order to increase their quality of life. This offers more balanced healthcare across those with different incomes and allows all individuals to have a say on how they want their body to be treated.

Day-to-day life becomes much more difficult; walking is a challenge, so chores around the house become an impossible task. Some individuals may even need to take time off work or find a new job entirely. Exercising can also become difficult, which may lead to weight gain. However increased weight leads to more pressure on the knee, creating higher levels of pain and will make recovery even harder after surgery.

Knee issues can be incredibly isolating and have a massive impact on mental health. It’s important to note how much waiting lists impact mental health. My dad has stated that the stress and pain that he’s gotten from his knee has worsened his heart condition – yet another issue that has arisen from having to wait. He’s also unable to play with his grandsons, as even getting onto the floor is an impossible task.

Treating patients for knee pain also becomes difficult with long waiting lists. Knee pain is excruciating, but there are no pain killers that are designed to be taken for moderate-severe pain daily for over a year.  This limits any help to only walking stick and physio exercises in the hopes of reducing pain.

Current NICE Guidelines state that adults should be allowed a choice between partial and full if both options are suitable [3]. But with increasing waiting lists, the “choice” is made redundant. With no end in sight, my dad’s knee will continue to degrade, leaving him with increasing pain with each passing day.