Hip replacement · England
Can I change hospital while waiting for an NHS hip replacement?
Sometimes, yes — but how depends on where you are in your pathway. Choosing a hospital when you are first referred (Patient Choice) and asking for an alternative provider because you are already waiting too long are two different routes, with different rules. If you are already waiting, the main route is usually to ask the hospital or your ICB about suitable alternatives, rather than starting again.
Two different routes
At first referral, most people in England have a legal right to choose which provider they are referred to for consultant-led care, with some exceptions. This is the route covered in our general Patient Choice guide.
Once you are already waiting, the relevant provision is the maximum-wait one: If you are likely to wait longer than the maximum waiting time that applies to you (generally 18 weeks from referral for non-urgent consultant-led treatment), you can ask the hospital or your local integrated care board (ICB) to look into suitable alternative providers that could see or treat you sooner. Exceptions apply — for example if you choose to wait longer or delaying is clinically appropriate — and it is not an automatic transfer.
Patient Choice explainedChanging hospital after referral (all treatments)
You do not always need a new GP referral
A new GP referral is one possible route in some situations, but it is not the only one and may not be the best one. Starting a new referral can affect how your waiting time is treated. Ask before you act.
Before you move
Questions to settle with the hospital or ICB first:
- How would my existing referral-to-treatment clock be treated?
- Would I need a new consultant appointment or assessment at the other provider?
- Is the other provider able to take NHS-funded patients for this treatment?
What this means for you
- Work out whether you are at first referral or already waiting.
- If already waiting, ask the hospital or ICB about alternatives.
- Confirm how your clock would be handled before agreeing to move.
This guide gives administrative information for patients in England. It is not medical advice and cannot predict your operation date.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers first. Tap a question to read more.
Will changing hospital guarantee an earlier operation?
No. Another provider may have different published waiting context, but only the NHS can confirm whether it can see you and when.
See where you stand in 60 seconds
Use our free 18-week calculator to check whether your wait may have passed the NHS Referral to Treatment standard.
Sources & references4
Reviewed against publicly available NHS England RTT guidance and the NHS Constitution.
Editorial transparency
How this guide was put together
- Reviewed against the latest publicly available NHS England RTT statistics and guidance.
- Written and edited by the NHSWaitHelper editorial team.
- Cross-checked against the NHS Constitution and operational guidance.
- Independent — no paid hospital rankings, no hidden sponsorship.
NHSWaitHelper is an independent information platform and is not affiliated with the NHS. We do not provide medical or legal advice. Always speak to your GP, clinician, or a regulated adviser about your individual circumstances.