I had my left hip BHR resurfaced on 20th Nov 2000 by Mr D Mcminn and was working again , landscaping and race driving 3 months later. It's brilliant and has kept my right hip going much longer than seemed possible ie. 13 yrs , but it now really badly needs doing. I can't walk far , say half a mile max with a stick plus a lot of pain through my hip/knee and leg. My question to any surgeon willing to reply is ----------- Can this be done on the NHS as I'm no longer in the position to pay , as was the case in 2000 and would really like to have this same very successful BHR method on my right hip ?
I live in BUCKS near to the CHILTERN HOSPITAL and have heard that it's possible to go there under the NHS '' choose and book '' scheme BUT is there a surgeon operating the BHR method there.
Hey Rob, and welcome.
I believe we've had several hippies from the UK do this, I'll let them fill you in on the mechanics. I think Mr. McMinn is not available, but Mr. Treacy is, who is also a highly successful BHR surgeon.
Hay mate! The best thing for you to do is ask for an appointment to Mr Ronan Treacy at the royal orthopaedic in Birmingham. He has done thousands more than a anyone else with incredible success.
Feel free to pm me if you want any help
Danny
Hi,
You can definitely have it done on the NHS, yes! I don't think Mr McMinn does it on the NHS but Ronan Treacy does who invented the BHR with McMinn. He practices at the Birmingham ROH and is one of the best surgeons in the UK for resurfacing. There are lots of other surgeons in the UK who still resurface however I personally think its better to travel the miles to get the best surgeon possible. There is a list on this website of all the most experienced resurfacing surgeons around the world.
Also, although not many people realise, and your GP will try tell you otherwise, you can choose which surgeon you want to see. That is your right, so you can tell your GP to refer you to Mr Treacy. Sometimes GP's can be a bit funny about this and a few of us on here have had this problem, so an alternative and quicker route if you can afford it, is to book a private appointment with Mr Treacy which I think cost around £150. If he says you are a good candidate for resurfacing then you can tell him you want him to do it on the NHS and he will write a letter to your GP telling them to refer you to him.
Hope that helps.
Anna
Many thanks for your replies , I'll be going through this route asap (choose and book) :)
Quote from: Anna on August 27, 2013, 02:37:09 PM
Hi,
You can definitely have it done on the NHS, yes! I don't think Mr McMinn does it on the NHS but Ronan Treacy does who invented the BHR with McMinn. He practices at the Birmingham ROH and is one of the best surgeons in the UK for resurfacing. There are lots of other surgeons in the UK who still resurface however I personally think its better to travel the miles to get the best surgeon possible. There is a list on this website of all the most experienced resurfacing surgeons around the world.
Also, although not many people realise, and your GP will try tell you otherwise, you can choose which surgeon you want to see. That is your right, so you can tell your GP to refer you to Mr Treacy. Sometimes GP's can be a bit funny about this and a few of us on here have had this problem, so an alternative and quicker route if you can afford it, is to book a private appointment with Mr Treacy which I think cost around £150. If he says you are a good candidate for resurfacing then you can tell him you want him to do it on the NHS and he will write a letter to your GP telling them to refer you to him.
Hope that helps.
Anna
Anna ,
Are you quite sure this will be the case , even if you don't live within the NHS area for financial yes or no aggeement ? Having been to my own doctor this morning to start the procedure , weight/BP etc etc and am having an x-ray later today ----------------- she tells me that she has no problem referring me BUT that our area(HERTFORDSHIRE)is very unlikely to pay for it/BIRMINGHAM being the area concerned. We'll just have to wait and see what transpires after her application to '' choose&book '' .
Anna is correct as she will reply herself.
I learnt of this through good people on this site and was referred by my Cornwall GP.
Enjoy the luxury as in Wales no such system exists - the local surgeon is your one and only choice and it's a post code lottery whether he has done 1 or a couple of hundred resurfacings with a device that probably won't be the BHR.
Good luck on your journey through the system to the operating table of an incredible surgeon, who happens to be a thoroughly decent human being too.
The NHS is the NATIONAL health service not the local health service. If the NHS gives you any grief go and see Mr T for a private appointment and he will write to them for you. They generally just refer you after that ;)
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on September 02, 2013, 01:53:10 PM
The NHS is the NATIONAL health service not the local health service. If the NHS gives you any grief go and see Mr T for a private appointment and he will write to them for you. They generally just refer you after that ;)
Thank you Danny , I've had an x-ray today so that will arrive at my doc's surgery in 7 days then we'll see what she can do for me . If no joy then I'll try a direct appointment with either Ronan Treacy or Mr D McMinn and ask for the NHS route/payment . Musn't antagonise my GP as I have other prob's she's looking after !!!
As Evant and Danny have said, it's a national service. My GP was prepared to send me to see anyone I wanted but unfortunately Mr T couldn't help me. I did however end up going all the way to London (I live in York) to see a different surgeon on the NHS. They have to let you see whatever surgeon you want to see.
Hope it all gets sorted soon
Anna
Quote from: Anna on September 02, 2013, 04:35:22 PM
As Evant and Danny have said, it's a national service. My GP was prepared to send me to see anyone I wanted but unfortunately Mr T couldn't help me. I did however end up going all the way to London (I live in York) to see a different surgeon on the NHS. They have to let you see whatever surgeon you want to see.
Hope it all gets sorted soon
Anna
Thank you Anna , it's obviously not going to be a simple route to my desired operation but am very grateful for your informed advice.
Unfortunately Mr McMinn is purely private these days mate so as far as hip resurfacing goes my choices in the UK would be No1 Ronan Treacy, No2 Mr O'Hara, No3 Mr Latham. They all work on the NHS 2 in Birmingham (the first 2) and 1 in Southampton. There are a few other good surgeons but why compromise when you can have the best in the world? Persist with your gp. It's going to cost them either way and if they send you to a local butcher then potentially it may cost them twice! It's in their intrests to get it right first time!
Danny
Well , after some good few weeks now I'm going through the motions of being referred to Mr McMinn . Having had the x-ray , seen my GP , she has informed me that 3 things need to be tried and failed then she can refer me . Two she's written off as not possible due to other health reasons but I've been taking pain killers (the 3rd option) for a good few weeks . They just about knock the egde off the pain provided that I don't do anything ie. sit and rest !!! Any activity and they're worse than useless --- walking 200 yards , biking , mowing the lawn , gardening , driving road or circuit --- and the pain is hell , right down into the thigh , knee , shin and foot . This is taking up to 8 a day of 500 mg paracetamol .
Having said all the above , I'm quite certain she knows full well it wont do the job BUT it's what needs doing before she can refer me. RULES & more RULES !
I'll be seeing my physio tomorrow for shoulder/arm accupuncture on the left side which I'll need to be good for use of crutches ??? While there I'll make another appointment to see my GP and report pain killer results . Hopefully I can get up to Birmingham before Xmas , otherwise I wont be competing in the race car next season :-\
Hi Rob
I moved your posts to the hip story section. Be patient and you will get to Mr. McMinn. You don't want to use surgeons that don't have a lot of experience, if you can help it.
Good Luck.
Pat
Quote from: Pat Walter on October 15, 2013, 09:12:30 AM
Hi Rob
I moved your posts to the hip story section. Be patient and you will get to Mr. McMinn. You don't want to use surgeons that don't have a lot of experience, if you can help it.
Good Luck.
Pat
Thank you Pat , patience is something life has taught me so happy to wait for the next move . Last time resurfacing it took me 8 weeks before driving again and just 3 months before wading into landscaping . A month after that I was driving on track again so an op before December would be good if my GP can work it for me .
Rob
I am in the UK as well and have been seeing Mr Latham, albeit privately.
It just doesn't feel right to me that your GP is saying you have to try managing the condition through painkillers before she can refer you and I woul honestly find an NHS helpline and check that out. Alternatively I suspect that Mr Treaceys office could be helpful if you emailed to say that you are looking to get an appointment but are being held up by the system in this way as they will know the "rules". Or as Danny says, maybe just book a private consultation which will get you the prognosis and you can then see how you can work it back to getting a formal NHS approval
David
Quote from: HippyDogwood on October 16, 2013, 04:29:52 AM
Rob
I am in the UK as well and have been seeing Mr Latham, albeit privately.
It just doesn't feel right to me that your GP is saying you have to try managing the condition through painkillers before she can refer you and I woul honestly find an NHS helpline and check that out. Alternatively I suspect that Mr Treaceys office could be helpful if you emailed to say that you are looking to get an appointment but are being held up by the system in this way as they will know the "rules". Or as Danny says, maybe just book a private consultation which will get you the prognosis and you can then see how you can work it back to getting a formal NHS approval
David
Thanks for your concern David . Maybe I didn't make it really clear about my GP ==== she actually expects this to fail and needs it to do so , in order for her to navigate the system. She's definitely on my side . If this fails to get me referred then I'll simply make an appointment with Mr McMinn and pay the fee .
I had a further appointment with my GP today and she is referring me to Mr McMinn , so now it's a funding issue once he's decided I'm a candidate . Apparently , funding is an area decision then cost is allotted to the particular surgery practice you happen to be in. We'll see :)
That's good progress Rob as at least you'll get quality advice on what is required
No appointment as yet , perhaps it's a busy time . I was hoping to have a new hip before Xmas but it's looking more like January at the moment :-\
Hi RobMSport
Only just started looking into this part of the site. Our paths are rather similar.
Mr McMInn did my right side in Nov 1999. It's been great.
Other side started to go. Long story short, I got an appointment under NHS Choose and Book, surgery nearly six weeks ago at BMI Edgbaston (all on NHS). Going well.
I suppose your local CCG (clinical commissioning group) may take a different view from mine - kent south east coast - but I don't see why they should. Once I had had my consultation with Mr McMinn, I only had to wait about two months.
All the best,
David
Quote from: Granton on November 17, 2013, 10:29:06 AM
Hi RobMSport
Only just started looking into this part of the site. Our paths are rather similar.
Mr McMInn did my right side in Nov 1999. It's been great.
Other side started to go. Long story short, I got an appointment under NHS Choose and Book, surgery nearly six weeks ago at BMI Edgbaston (all on NHS). Going well.
I suppose your local CCG (clinical commissioning group) may take a different view from mine - kent south east coast - but I don't see why they should. Once I had had my consultation with Mr McMinn, I only had to wait about two months.
All the best,
David
Many thanks for the encouragement David , it's about 3 or so weeks now since my GP referred me but hopefully at some point I'll hear from MR MCMINN's secretary.
My GP wrote to him at Birmingham Royal Orthopaedic, where he used to work, but doesn't any more.
I contacted his private practice staff and they told me to get a Choose and Book reference from my GP and how to get an appointment with him at Edgbaston.
Eventually I got an appointment at the Orthopaedic, which I did not want because it was not Mr McMinn or MR Treacy, so cancelled that.
I believe I was the first of Mr McMinns patients to go through this route.
Depending on who your GP has written to, it may be worth you speaking to Mr McMinns admin staff at The McMinn Centre. They are very helpful.
David
Since (apparently) being referred by my GP , I have contacted her via her secretary and she phoned me to say that she'll chase them up . That was many weeks after the appointment to arrange a choose/book with Mr Mcminn and it's now around four weeks or more since that phone call. I'm not at all sure what the proceedure is from my GP's point of view ie. whether she asks her area authority OR direct to Mcminn's secretary.
My GP says the he(Mr Mcminn)has to apply for funding but that's NOT what I've been told at his end . I don't have confidence in my GP/Surgery telling me what is actually happening , especially after being told '' don't hold out too much hope on this '' . I'll phone my GP again after the Xmas period .
This is how it worked for me.
My GP originally wrote to an NHS hospital where Mr McMinn once worked, but that was a dead end. Mr McM's people told me about the Choose and Book option - where and when I had to make an appointment. I then went back to my GPs practice and they issued me with a password for the choose and book system. This is just the equivalent of being referred for a consultation. That allowed me to make an appointment by phone or online. I did it online.
I had the appointment - no authorisation from your CCG needed for that. At the appointment I was given a surgery date and the hospital applied to my CCG for authorisation. That was a slightly nervous wait and I did chase it up with them. Not sure whether that helped or not. I found a policy statement from my CCG that suggested it would be OK.
I eventually got the go ahead. I know that each CCG can make its own rules and I was worried that at 65 they would insist on a THR, but all was well.
Hope this helps. I would normally suggest phoning me if you need more detail, but am in Australia now. Do PM me if I can help more.
David
Quote from: Granton on December 21, 2013, 04:40:06 PM
This is how it worked for me.
My GP originally wrote to an NHS hospital where Mr McMinn once worked, but that was a dead end. Mr McM's people told me about the Choose and Book option - where and when I had to make an appointment. I then went back to my GPs practice and they issued me with a password for the choose and book system. This is just the equivalent of being referred for a consultation. That allowed me to make an appointment by phone or online. I did it online.
I had the appointment - no authorisation from your CCG needed for that. At the appointment I was given a surgery date and the hospital applied to my CCG for authorisation. That was a slightly nervous wait and I did chase it up with them. Not sure whether that helped or not. I found a policy statement from my CCG that suggested it would be OK.
I eventually got the go ahead. I know that each CCG can make its own rules and I was worried that at 65 they would insist on a THR, but all was well.
Hope this helps. I would normally suggest phoning me if you need more detail, but am in Australia now. Do PM me if I can help more.
David
Many thanks David , I am still waiting for that choose/book password . I've recently been refered to an eye specialist via the optition sending a letter to my GP . Without any face to face contact with my GP I received the choose/book plus password letter in 2 weeks ---- hence why I assume it's budgetry or just not been sent for choose/book at all . We'll see .
Rob
I phoned my GP's secretary this morning to find out whether the funding re-- choose & book system for this type of op' had been agreed or not (obviously getting frustrated after first appointment to discuss it was September 2013) --- to my great surprise it's going ahead and apparently I'll here from Mr McMinn directly at some point ;D
A 6 mths struggle in keep pestering my GP but very well worth it , although at the time she did say that I shouldn't hold out much hope .
Excellent! Very good news indeed. I was beginning to think that this was a "postcode lottery" situation.
As you know, you will be in very good hands. I think I had to wait about six weeks from first consultation to surgery, though I am sure this fluctuates.
David
That's great news Rob, persistence pays off!
Well absolutely now't happened after my GP told me it was going through now and that I'd hear directly from MR McMinn next . However , in July she phoned me asking ''what's going on with your hip Mr Farley'' to which I said I'd heard nothing but that my wife's major shoulder op ' mean't I was looking after her / chief cook/bottle washer etc . Also I am racing my car now it's summer --------- meaning that Winter was my plan for BHR hip jobby so had booked and paid for various events. So couldn't have had it done and leave my wife unable to cook/eat/dress etc.
My plan next , as my wife has improved so can dress and do a few tasks , will be to contact my GP in late September and ask her to chase this up again. I'm not really sure who needs chasing to be honest --- our area funding , Mr McMinn or what ??? Hopefully it can get done this Autumn or Winter ideally.
I feel elated , as after contacting my GP only a little over a week ago , I had a choose and book appointment in the post yesterday for the 29th Oct at BMI Edgebaston :) Hopefully not too long after that my hip op' may be carried out. Phew , it's been a long wait since August 2013 but very pleased now .
Thats great news mate! :)
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on October 08, 2014, 04:13:05 AM
Thats great news mate! :)
Thankyou Danny , can't wait for the 3 mths after result then I can get back in the race car next season . Just had my last competition event of 2014 -- won my class and was 3rd overall from 80 entries , only beat into 3rd overall by 0.07 sec -- very happy especially now I know the hip will be sorted.
Good news!
I think my wait between first consultation and surgery was about seven weeks. May have changed of course.
It will be great to get it done.
Quote from: Granton on October 08, 2014, 05:57:46 AM
Good news!
Yes great news . What age were you on your last one David ? Last time I was just 56 yrs so hoping my years(70yrs)now doesn't give issues. Shoulders are giving problems now so using sticks for the walking I'll need to do will be harder than before and I'm monitored for CLL since noted that my white cells are high a few years ago. I walked three times a day 500 yds from day one once home then built up to 3 miles a day by 8 weeks , working hard again by 3 mths.
I think my wait between first consultation and surgery was about seven weeks. May have changed of course.
It will be great to get it done.
I was 51 for my first, 66 for my second. The recovery from my second was even easier than for the first. I had remarkably little discomfort, could easily lift the operated leg off the bed the day after surgery.
I asked Mr McMinn whether they had changed the procedures in the intervening years, but he just put it down to luck. It's a question of how much bruising happens.
One change is that, whereas I had a conventional full anaesthetic first time, for the second I had an epidural preceded by a much lighter full anaesthetic. Much better!
Quote from: RobMsport on October 08, 2014, 05:44:18 AM
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on October 08, 2014, 04:13:05 AM
Thats great news mate! :)
Thankyou Danny , can't wait for the 3 mths after result then I can get back in the race car next season . Just had my last competition event of 2014 -- won my class and was 3rd overall from 80 entries , only beat into 3rd overall by 0.07 sec -- very happy especially now I know the hip will be sorted.
Although it's not relevant as regards my need for a BHR , I forgot to mention that I have won the Sports Libre 2014 ACSMC Sprint championship again / the 5th time in 14 yrs ;D Obviously the last event (above post) helped seal it for me.
Getting into the car was ok but damn difficult getting out , as I'm sitting just 3 inches off the ground.
I had my appointment on the 29th Oct with Mr McMinn and there are now issues regarding a BHR going ahead quickly. There's either a cyst or a tumor within the femeral head which if a cyst isn't a problem . However , as I have had CLL checks due to a high white blood cell count a few years ago , a tumor is a possibility. With this in mind I've been referred back to my GP to confirm one way or the other.
She is convinced it's a cyst but I've had further blood tests this week then have a full examination on Monday(tomorrow!) Hopefully she's right and my BHR can go ahead.
Fingers crossed for you mate!!
Well , it's been a long inefficient process . Seeing my GP was fine , she jumped onto it straight away . Having then asked for the hospital's confirmation of her diagnosis / no tumor (the hospital did the blood's anyway) , the hospital did nothing regarding contact for many weeks . Then they finally sent me an appointment to see their consultant for tests. No acknowledgement of my GP's letter asking them to confirm to Mr McMinn the findings. Further more the appointment was for another 5 week wait , the 22nd December , two months since my appointment with Mr McMinn on the 29th Oct.
This appointment confirmed the oppinion that a tumor was highly unlikely , as my GP had said from bloods the hospital had already done 2 mths ago. This experience made me ask the consultant whether he would inform Mr McMinn/my GP of this today , he answered yes , in fact it will be sent today.
Well 2 weeks after Xmas ----- bleep bleep etc , my GP phoned to ask me what had happened at my hospital appointment !!!! (22nd Dec) No contact to her . Yesterday , I received a copy of a letter to Mr McMinn and a GP , not mine !!! that the hip resurfacing should go ahead ------ letter dated 7th January ??
So now I'm just waiting for a slot to be offered via Edgebaston/MrMcMinn -- hopefully :)
Well , as of two weeks ago , I was bored waiting for my op' date , so ---------------- decided to contact Edgebaston . The reply was '' sorry but it appears you've gone past the '' 18 week '' date rule . On asking what that mean't I was told that if you are not treated via the choose/book system within 18wks then referal and funding has to be applied for all over again ! Fortunately , yesterday I was contacted to say that my GP should refer me again straight away. Then I will get a date to see the surgeon again plus paperwork. Then funding can be applied for . Once granted , I can have a scan and at some point after that , I'll get my BHR or another type if the scan proves a tumor to be present.
Having had a little natter with my previous , now retired GP , from what he told me , I believe the delay was useful financially for the nhs . So it will take 3 trips from BUCKS to Edgebaston to complete the hip op '.
That Sucks mate sorry to hear that!
I have another appointment today to see Mr Mcminn , which is really a repeat of my first one last October but this time I'll be coming back another day/week for a scan. Hopefully , soon after that I'll get my op ' date .
I'm not sure how long it was after my 2000 left hip was done that I could drive again but would really like to be on track by July 11th in the race car --- I'll have missed several events before that date but this one's at Goodwood , so really want to compete there.
I'm on my way to the next stage now. A MARS Scan next Wednesday 13th May to confirm any problem(or not hopefully)with the femoral head. If all is well then an appointment for BHR op ' should follow soon afterwards :)
Crossing my fingers for you mate. :)
Just had a confirmed or at least , pencilled in date for surgery :) 16th June
That's great news mate!!
Sorry I've not posted till today but many things have prevented me . Firstly my wife has had 4 operations since 2014 , the last one being her new left hip . Obviously these three 4 ops have occupied me as carer , however my good news is that no cancerous tumour was found in my right hip , just cysts which were removed then the BHR done on June 16th 2015 . Three weeks after that I was carer again for my wife , obviously she helped me during those three weeks , then I hired help for the two power stockings we all know and love for myself , just no way could I bend beyond 90 degrees . To cut a long story short , by 6 weeks I was walking 2 miles a day 7 days a week and driving the manual car , then saw Mr McMinn at 9 weeks for checkup. I did the same regime as for my first BHR in Nov 2000 , kept both sticks right up till dispensing with them , rather than switching to one stick as it went on. I found it easier to walk squarely and equally on each leg using two. I have seen people using just the one but noticed that they limped a bit , favouring one leg , not putting full weight on the new BHR leg . Then in October , just over 3 mths after my BHR I raced at Goodwood again , first time in the car since April the same year so a little scary until I got through the first corner without a ' lift ' ------------ then it all simply clicked in . Came 1st in class but a touch slower laptime than my previous best.
So now I have a pair of BHR's by the brilliant Mr D McMinn ;D
Glad to hear things are going well for you. Thanks for stopping by and giving us an update. I hope you and your wife continue to heal and have a nice summer - pain free and well.
Good Luck.
Pat
Quote from: Pat Walter on March 14, 2017, 09:22:33 AM
Glad to hear things are going well for you. Thanks for stopping by and giving us an update. I hope you and your wife continue to heal and have a nice summer - pain free and well.
Good Luck.
Pat
Many thanks Pat :)
Very soon now , in fact June 16th , it'll be 3 yrs since my right BHR was done by Mr McMinn . November 20th this year will be the 18th anniversary of my left BHR by Mr McMinn . Pleased to say they are both working well and I continue to compete in motorsport plus redesigning and building our garden .