I’m proof cutting edge ops save time and cash
I had a left hip replacement one month ago, after having had my right hip replaced in mid-October. despite the NhS money-saving drive (Mail), the type of operation I had was a SuperPath replacement, performed by Michael Cronin at the Warwickshire Nuffield hospital. I became aware of this type of hip replacement via the daily Mail’s Good health section’s Me and My Operation feature last March. It’s still virtually unheard of in the UK. Under the SuperPath method, the original hip isn’t dislocated as part of the surgery and the major muscles surrounding the joint aren’t cut. This helps the patient recover more quickly, is less invasive, with less chance of infection and post-operative issues, and the prospect of subsequent re-dislocation is effectively eliminated. at the age of 61, I was lucky enough to be able to have these operations on the NhS under the ‘choose and book’ scheme, for which I am eternally grateful. The NhS is looking to make savings of 25 per cent on hip replacements. Initial surveys on what is admittedly a small number of patients shows that SuperPath, though more expensive as an operation, saves 28 per cent against the traditional method when comparing the total package: operation, time spent in hospital (I was in for only two nights each time), recovery programme and treatment of post-operative problems. In terms of quick recovery, it meant discarding my elbow crutches after twoand-a-half weeks and subsequently walking more than a mile every day, not to mention riding an exercise bike for an hour. I’ll be resuming ballroom dancing later this week and return to road cycling (30 to 40 miles) next week. Based on my experiences, why is SuperPath not more widely known? The answer appears to be it involves a steep learning curve for surgeons, which conflicts with the bureaucratic demands of a target-obsessed NhS. Surely the question that needs to be asked is: what’s more important — hitting targets set by faceless NhS administrators, or doing what’s best for the patient?
GARY GRISTWOOD, Wellesbourne, Warks.