Hip replacement · England
I’ve waited a year for an NHS hip replacement. What happens now?
A year is a long wait, well beyond the 18-week maximum. You can confirm your status, escalate if you are not getting answers, and ask the NHS about suitable alternatives.
Confirm where you are
Ask the hospital to confirm your clock start date, your pathway stage and whether you are listed for surgery. Long waits sometimes involve an administrative problem, such as a referral that was never fully added to the list.
Escalating
If the hospital cannot give you a clear answer, PALS can help. If that does not work, you can complain formally to the hospital or to your ICB.
Alternatives
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.
Published evidence can point to NHS-funded providers that record hip replacement activity and whose specialty-level Trauma and Orthopaedics waiting context (not a hip-specific wait) appears shorter. It cannot confirm capacity, acceptance or suitability.
What this means for you
- Confirm your pathway stage and listing.
- Escalate through PALS if you get no answer.
- Ask the hospital or ICB about suitable alternatives.
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.
Is there a guaranteed action after 52 weeks?
No automatic outcome applies to individuals. Your basis for asking remains the maximum-wait provision and the NHS complaints process.
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.