Specialist joint treatment by private hospitals

In the United Kingdom if a patient has a health problem the usual place the patient would visit would be your GP, if the problem needed specialist treatment then the patient would be referred to see a doctor or consultant on the NHS.  Unfortunately there are often long waiting lists to see certain specialists.  The alternative for a patient wanting to be fast tracked would be to go to the same specialist within the private sector.  This way the patient could get a diagnosis and if the consultant felt that the patient needed further treatment or surgery the patient would be given the option to have this done either privately or on the NHS.  The consultant who gives you the diagnosis is usually the surgeon.

If a patient were needing joint treatment (Arthrose Behandlung) then the patient would need to see a Consultant who specialises in orthopaedics (Orthopäde).  The consultant will make a decision at some point during the consultation as to whether the patient needs an x-ray, if the patient has a knee or hip complaint then they would be sent for a plain x-ray (standard), this would then be read by a consultant Radiologist who would determine what was wrong with the patient from the x-ray.  If however the patient was to have a back complaint then the consultant might find it necessary to perform an MRI scan.  An MRI is magnetic scanning which gives no radiation to the patient, a patient is required to be very still throughout the scan in order that clear sequences can be obtained.  Unfortunately some patients cannot tolerate the scan due to claustrophobia.

Once an x-ray has been obtained by the consultant, then a decision will be made as to whether or not the patient requires surgery.  If the patient has come for a private consultation but cannot afford the operation to be done privately then the patient will be referred back on to the NHS.  They will get the operation done faster than if they had gone through the whole procedure on the NHS as they have already acquired a diagnosis.

If the patient is to have surgery then they would be asked to attend a pre-operative assessment about a week before their operation date.  During this assessment the nurse will take bloods, urine, blood pressure and if needs by a chest x-ray to determine whether the patient is deemed fit for the operation.  The patient will be given instructions with regards to fasting before the procedure and the surgery usually takes place on the day of admission (with some surgery the patient is taken in the night previously for rest and preparation)

Once the patient has had the surgery then they will be x-rayed again (a post operative x-ray) to ensure that everything is in place and that no complication has occurred at the site of surgery.  They will then be given medication and pain relief by the nurses and the physiotherapists will help the patient to get back on their feet, before sending them home to recover.  They will be asked to attend a follow up appointment usually 6 weeks after surgery, so that the consultant can sign the patient off.  The patient is then asked to attend for a 1 year post operative x-ray to assure that everything is still in situ and as it should be.

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