NHS patients choose to travel further for faster surgeries under scheme

Joy Cullen, 67, from Redditch, visited her GP after suffering debilitating hip pain for several months, which left her unable to walk far and relying on an electric scooter.

She was forced to quit her job managing a local garden centre and feared her life would have to go on hold as she waited for surgery - something she had been told could be up to a year away on the NHS.

But a chance conversation with a friend about NHS Patient Choice saw her travelling to Practice Plus Group Hospital Birmingham, an independent hospital around 30 minutes from her home which also treats both private and NHS patients.

By choosing where she received her NHS treatment and being prepared to travel a little further, she has had both of her hips replaced within 12 months, which she says far exceeded her expectations as an NHS patient and has transformed her quality of life.

Today, she is back at work part-time at the garden centre, walking regularly with her husband and enjoying holidays again instead of watching from the side-lines. Her story comes as the Edgbaston-based Practice Plus Group hospital marks its second anniversary by pledging to help a further 2,027 NHS patients by the end of 2027.

In addition, to celebrate the thousands of patients whose lives have been transformed by the team, the hospital is launching a Turning Birmingham Purple campaign. This will digitally transform some of the city’s top landmarks, like the Bull and city skyline, on its social media platforms.

Joy Cullen said: "I felt like life was passing me by. Before my operations, it had got so bad that I was using an electric scooter because I couldn't walk very far without terrible pain.

"I was manager of a garden centre and last January was just awful. I was on crutches, using my electric scooter and I felt it wasn't fair on the rest of the staff because they were basically carrying me with the workload as I was not very mobile.

“In the end, I gave up my job. It wasn't just work that suffered. My hip pain and lack of mobility affected everything.

"We went on holiday earlier in the year before I had the operation and, wherever we went with our friends, I stayed sitting in cafés while everyone else went off exploring. That was one of the hardest things. You feel like life is happening around you and you're just watching from the side-lines. It was really depressing.

"I had no idea there was another option. When you go to the doctors, they don't tell you about Patient Choice.

"I paid privately for my first consultation because it speeded up the process, but the surgery itself was NHS-funded. I speak to a lot of people now and when I explain the system, they don't really understand it. They are oblivious to it because I don't think it's advertised enough within the NHS.”

It comes after NHS figures show more than 7.37 million treatments are waiting to be carried out across England.

This translates to 6.24 million patients in need of help, with more than 113,000 people waiting for more than a year to start routine treatment.

Since opening in October 2024, Practice Plus Group Hospital Birmingham has treated more than 5,600 NHS patients, performing more than 350 NHS joint replacements – with many of its patients travelling to Birmingham from surrounding areas to receive treatment.

Approximately 80 per cent of the independent hospital group’s patients are treated through NHS-funded pathways, with many of its patients travelling from further afield to access treatment through NHS Patient Choice at one of its 12 hospitals.

Joy Cullen added: "Once referred, it was just five weeks from my consultant appointment to having my operation. Choosing where I had surgery saved so much time. I definitely think I'd still be waiting for that surgery now if I hadn't been prepared to travel to Practice Plus Group in Birmingham.

“People assume going somewhere else for NHS surgery means travelling miles away, but that wasn't the case for me. It really wasn't much further than travelling to my nearest hospitals.”

"The surgery was brilliant. Everyone was so supportive and reassuring throughout. In fact, with my second hip replacement I went home the very same day. The whole experience was far better than I ever imagined it would be.

"Now I can join in again. I'm not using my electric scooter and I've started going walking with my husband, which I haven't been able to do for probably two and a half years.”

Samantha Doubleday, hospital director at Practice Plus Group’s Birmingham hospital addressed the need for greater awareness of Patient Choice amongst those currently waiting for surgery.

She said: “Raising awareness amongst both patients and GPs is vital if we are to help reduce waiting lists and ensure people can access treatment sooner.

“This is why we are committing to help at least 2,027 more NHS patients get the elective surgery they need in the next year. By choosing where to have NHS surgery, patients are finding they are able to be seen much sooner.

“For example, our NHS patients are currently waiting on average just over 17 weeks from referral to first consultation, with surgery taking place on average less than a month later.

"We have the expertise, facilities and capacity to treat both NHS and private patients, and stories like Joy's show the life-changing impact that timely treatment can have if patients are prepared to travel a little further.

“By making more people aware of their right to choose, we can help thousands of patients access high-quality care more quickly while also supporting the NHS in bringing down waiting lists."