What we’re doing to tackle waiting times for people with arthritis

01 December 2023
Dr Zoe Williams and text which reads 'New knees and hips: Britain's biggest queue?'
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Right now, around one million people are waiting — in some cases years — to get their hip or knee replaced or for other vital orthopaedic treatments.  

No one should have to wait in agony for this long.  

We’ve heard from people who can barely move around their homes, are isolated from family and friends, and are struggling to work while waiting for treatment.

And now with winter pressures looming, planned surgeries are once again at risk of being further delayed.  

Getting public attention on the issue of waiting lists has never been more vital.

So, on last night’s ITV Tonight’s programme, we spoke to Dr Zoe Williams about joint pain, the impact long waits for knee and hip replacements have on people with arthritis – and why the Government needs to tackle them urgently. 

Watch now

Life on a waiting list 

By the time people need a joint replacement, people are often in excruciating pain — and surgery is usually the only choice left.

So, imagine how tough it can be when you need to wait another year or two for your surgery date.  

Mary, 49, lives with rheumatoid arthritis. After three years of waiting in agony, she’s finally got her hip replaced. 

“Life on a waiting list is one of those really awful things because you can’t plan anything,” she says. “You have to put your life on hold... because you’re always wondering whether you’ll get the letter through. 

“The worst part for me is the pain – I can’t describe what it [was] like living in pain and not knowing when it’s going to be fixed.”

Mary, 49, who lives with rheumatoid arthritis

Why is the growing waiting list a problem for people with arthritis? 

90% of hip and knee replacements are for people with osteoarthritis – and they can a real lifeline.  

Joint replacements can reduce pain, restore mobility, and give people their lives back. They're also some of the most common and cost-effective treatments on the NHS. 

With every day that passes waiting for a surgery date, we know many people are losing hope, struggling with the physical, emotional and financial impact of waiting for this life-changing operation. 

Many are even making the difficult decision to pay for surgery after months, or sometimes years, of waiting in agony. This is often paid for by borrowing, draining their savings accounts, or crowd funding. 

The growing waiting list isn’t just affecting operations though. Many people with arthritis are also waiting for important scans, test results, and appointments such as physiotherapy, where any delay can delay a long-awaited diagnosis or a new course of medication.   

Watch now

We’re calling on the government to prioritise waiting lists 

Brenda in her living roomThe government must help end people’s pain by:  

  • Making sure operations go ahead all year round: The government must continue rolling out surgical hubs, which offer a protected space for operations to go ahead even when the NHS is under pressure. This would allow more operations to be done with fewer cancellations during the busiest months.  
  • Supporting people while they wait: The government must make pain, mental health, and physical activity services accessible to everyone who needs them while they wait for surgery.  
  • Not leaving people in the dark: Hospitals must update patients regularly about how much longer they’ll be waiting. 

"The real crisis at the moment is within the waiting times and it's a real postcode lottery wherever you are across the uk…often people feel like they've just been left in the dark, left in the abyss - and when you are in pain, that's a really, really unhelpful place to be."

Zoe Chivers, Director of Services and Influencing at Versus Arthritis

How the waiting list is affecting our community  

We surveyed our community and heard about the experiences of 324 people currently waiting for joint replacement surgery.  

Although it's a small sample size and just a snapshot of the population, it gives us a glimpse of how the growing waiting list is affecting people with arthritis.  

Who is waiting for surgery? 

The survey revealed that: 

  • 62% of people have been waiting for surgery for over 12 months.
  • 34% of people have been waiting for surgery for over 24 months. 
  • 56% of people say that their ability to work has been affected in some way. 
  • 35% of people are already retired.  

Are people considering paying privately for surgery? 

  • 37% of people are likely to consider paying privately for surgery.  
  • 31% of people waiting less than two years for joint replacement surgery said they’re likely to consider paying privately for surgery compared to 49% of people waiting longer than two years. 
  • Only 15% of people could afford to pay for surgery with their own money. 
  • 30% of people would consider having their surgery abroad. 

Support while you wait for surgery  

If you’re waiting for surgery or a treatment, we know it can be an anxious time. But we’re here for you.  

Remember there are small steps you can take to manage your physical and mental wellbeing while you’re waiting. Even small changes can make a big difference.  

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If you need advice or support, you can also: 

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