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NHS Hip Op Wait: Woman Flees to Lithuania for Treatment
18 Jul
Summary
- Woman endured hip pain described as 'broken glass' due to NHS delays.
- UK NHS waiting list for hip replacement reached 12-18 months.
- UK residents seeking overseas medical treatment surged significantly.
Nicky Hatton, a 59-year-old woman from Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, sought medical treatment in Lithuania after facing an extensive NHS waiting list for a hip replacement. Suffering from osteoarthritis for three years, Hatton described her pain as akin to 'broken glass' and was told by her GP that it would take at least 12 to 18 months to receive the operation on the NHS.
After waiting four months and being advised to use a walking stick, Hatton discovered that private hip replacement surgery in the UK could cost between £20,000 and £25,000. She then found an option in Kaunas, Lithuania, for £8,600 and traveled there in April 2026 for the procedure, reporting a significant improvement in her quality of life.
Hatton's experience reflects a broader trend, with Office for National Statistics (ONS) data indicating a rise in UK residents seeking healthcare abroad. An estimated 523,000 UK residents traveled overseas for healthcare in 2024, an increase from previous years. This surge coincides with a rise in private healthcare admissions within the UK, reaching a record high in 2025, with 953,000 admissions.
