How long in hospital for knee surgery?

lightspeed

Hi

My mothers knee is in a bad way from years of arthritis. Its looking like she will have to get surgery on her knee as painkillers are no longer helping as much. We are from Dublin and i have been making some calls about the cost of the procedure and where best to get it done.

I know its going to be costly but what im surprised is the huge variance of cost which mostly seems to be dictated by how long they keep you in overnight. It was a few months ago when i was ringing most of them and was told its €1000 a night.

Some said she would be in 7- 10 nights and so could be between 10-15k so mostly around 12k.

I think it was santry sports clinic i rang who said if went through the surgeon directly it might be best as he tries to get patients out in 5 days so could be 10k.

I found another in university hospital in waterford and they said it would be 3 nights only so cost wont go over 8k but could be as low as 6k.


So huge variance for something which at this point must be a common surgery. I would have thought there would be a more established period of time that patients typically stay in the hospital after surgery.

At €1000 a night it seems like there is an incentive to keep patients in hospital after surgery longer than maybe necessary.

One eyed Jack

lightspeed wrote: »

So huge variance for something which at this point must be a common surgery. I would have thought there would be a more established period of time that patients typically stay in the hospital after surgery.

Hi OP,

There are a couple of reasons for the huge variance. Anything from -

- The patients age and medical history
- The complexities of the procedure itself
- Different hospitals and clinics will have different facilities, different standards

For example, I recently had a hip replacement procedure done. I was admitted on the Friday morning, surgery in the afternoon, and was allowed to go home on the Monday afternoon. I recovered very quickly after the procedure, and there are places where a hip or knee replacement can be done as an outpatient procedure now, depending again of course on the patient and what needs to be done, and the facilities available at the hospital to do so.

I have private health insurance, but I'm guessing that's not an option for your mother at this point, and I can understand your wanting to have the procedure done as immediately as possible, so going on a public waiting list isn't a viable option.

I don't think anyone is trying to fleece you though, I think some places are giving you the best case scenario, and some places are giving you the worst case scenario, but the reality is that nobody can possibly know with any certainty so they're just giving you their best guess answer based upon their own experience and wanting to reassure you as much as they possibly can.

lightspeed

One eyed Jack wrote: »

Hi OP,

There are a couple of reasons for the huge variance. Anything from -

- The patients age and medical history
- The complexities of the procedure itself
- Different hospitals and clinics will have different facilities, different standards

For example, I recently had a hip replacement procedure done. I was admitted on the Friday morning, surgery in the afternoon, and was allowed to go home on the Monday afternoon. I recovered very quickly after the procedure, and there are places where a hip or knee replacement can be done as an outpatient procedure now, depending again of course on the patient and what needs to be done, and the facilities available at the hospital to do so.

I have private health insurance, but I'm guessing that's not an option for your mother at this point, and I can understand your wanting to have the procedure done as immediately as possible, so going on a public waiting list isn't a viable option.

I don't think anyone is trying to fleece you though, I think some places are giving you the best case scenario, and some places are giving you the worst case scenario, but the reality is that nobody can possibly know with any certainty so they're just giving you their best guess answer based upon their own experience and wanting to reassure you as much as they possibly can.

No we dont have private insurance. My mother has a medical card but the appointment to see a consultant is nearly 3 years :mad:

From reading online looking at US doctors and NHS website, most seem to say 3 to 5 days. So would make sense that someone older and perhaps more frail may take longer to heal and would need to be kept in for observation longer.


Although i was'nt taking to the actual consultant doctor themselves and only their receptionist they seemed to be given me what they understood to be the average rather than worst case scenario.

7 to 12 days seems out of step with the norm elsewhere if that is the case.

barring complications, 3 to 5 days seems right. However, some form of respite which would include physio might be recommended, for a week or so. Respite would be cheaper than hospital.

lightspeed

Deleted User wrote: »

barring complications, 3 to 5 days seems right. However, some form of respite which would include physio might be recommended, for a week or so. Respite would be cheaper than hospital.

Thanks, excuse my ignorance but what is respite? Will she stay overnight somewhere for that and do physio i assume?

It's more nursing home than hospital, but is great for recovery and physio.

Hsecrossborder

You can avoid waiting list and access immediate surgery in Belfast in accordance with the eu cross border directive

Kristopherus

Hsecrossborder wrote: »

You can avoid waiting list and access immediate surgery in Belfast in accordance with the eu cross border directive

Could you explain the procedure to avail of that scheme, please.

Hsecrossborder

Can you pm me

Kristopherus

Hsecrossborder wrote: »

Can you pm me

I answered your pm. I asked the question , as an info point for all the posters in the thread. You username indicates you know something about the scheme. Are you a facilitator of same?

Hsecrossborder

Sorry I have been trying to reply to your pm and I haven’t been able to

Hsecrossborder

The Cross-Border Healthcare Directive, operated by the HSE, entitles Irish patients waiting for surgery procedures in the Republic of Ireland to obtain treatment, in either a public or private setting, within Northern Ireland.

If you are entitled to public health services in Ireland and you choose to access those services in Northern Ireland you can be reimbursed by the HSE for the costs incurred. The amount that will be repaid is the amount that the treatment would cost in Ireland, or the cost of your treatment abroad, if that is less.

You must be referred to those services by your GP, treating physician or hospital consultant. Or, in the case of certain community based services by a HSE professional, such as a Public Health Nurse. A referral from a GP or consultant abroad is also acceptable.

Kristopherus

Hsecrossborder wrote: »

Sorry I have been trying to reply to your pm and I haven’t been able to

Can you just list the procedures for obtaining medical services in another EU country, please?

Hsecrossborder

Did you see the reply above

Kristopherus

No, you posted while I was replying to your post.

OP, have a look here: https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/treatmentabroad/

Tom Mann Centuria

Depends on the knee surgery op. If it's a total knee replacement, they are considerably more painful than a hip replacement and can take some getting over, for any age.

Hsecrossborder

You can get an application form from the HSE if you require a procedure, the HSE will write back to advise they will refund the cost of the procedure. If you need to know anything else let me know

Hsecrossborder

There is no application process for outpatient or day case care. Once you have a referral from a GP or treating consultant in Ireland you may proceed with your outpatient appointment. A referral from a GP or a consultant abroad is also acceptable.

Following the appointment you then submit the necessary receipts to the HSE for reimbursement. Information regarding reimbursement rates prior to your appointment are available by contacting the CBD office.

If the treatment involves an overnight stay in hospital then it will need to be authorised in advance by the HSE.

Prior authorisation can be obtained following the submission of completed application form, accompanied by the appropriate clinician referring letter, in sufficient time to allow the HSE to assess and make a decision.

The application form for prior authorisation should be completed by you, the patient, and by the medical professional who is referring you for treatment abroad.

It seems that you pay for the procedure and then you claim the money back. Am I reading that right?

Kurtosis

Deleted User wrote: »

It seems that you pay for the procedure and then you claim the money back. Am I reading that right?

Yes, the costs are then reimbursed by the state. There's comprehensive information available on all aspects of the cross-border directive from the HSE website here.