Bassetlaw patients can wait a year to have hip surgery, new figures claim
Patients needing hip replacements at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals wait a year on average for their surgery, new figures have revealed.
New data shows that patients under Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust waited an average 52 weeks for elective hip surgery between June 2025 and May 2026.
Healthcare marketplace, My Medical Gateway, sent a Freedom of Information request to Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to find out how long patients have been waiting for hip replacement surgery.
The findings show patients were waiting an average of 52 weeks (364 days) before being treated.
In England, the formal interim target (launched in January 2025 and to be achieved by March 2026) is for 65 per cent of patients to be treated within 18 weeks from referral, alongside a target to reduce the proportion waiting over 52 weeks to less than one per cent of the total waiting list.
This is an increase from recent years, with the average wait time for elective hip surgery from GP referral standing at 48 weeks in 2024/25 and 38 weeks in 2023/24.
As of May 2026, there were 565 patients waiting for elective hip surgery under Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Sara Gezdari, head of investor relations at My Medical Gateway, said: “Many people join NHS waiting lists after spending months or years attempting to manage their condition through physiotherapy, pain relief medication, injections, and lifestyle modifications.
“By the time surgery is recommended, they are often already struggling. The true impact of waiting is measured not in weeks but in declining quality of life”.
Patients frequently experience increasing pain levels, sleep disruption, reduced mobility, loss of independence, mental health challenges, social isolation, reduced physical fitness and greater dependence on family members.
She added: "Many patients continue working despite severe symptoms. As pain worsens, productivity often falls. Some reduce their hours. Others leave work entirely. The consequences can be particularly significant for self-employed individuals who depend upon physical mobility to earn a living.
"At a national level, delayed treatment contributes to lost productivity, increased welfare costs and growing demand for social care services. At an individual level, the financial impact can be life-changing.
“Private hip replacement surgery in the UK typically costs between £12,549 and £14,950. For many patients, this is a significant financial commitment. However, the calculation is often broader than the treatment price alone."
Patients frequently compare the cost of surgery against months of pain, reduced mobility, lost earnings and declining independence. Many conclude that earlier treatment offers both health and economic benefits, said Ms Gezdari.
"The emergence of accredited European healthcare providers creates additional options for UK patients.
"Average hip replacement costs across many European providers are approximately £9,088, around 27 per cent lower than typical UK private healthcare prices.
“They can offer consultations, diagnostics and surgery within weeks."
A spokesperson for Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals said: “We recognise that waits are longer than we would want for hip surgery, and we thank our patients for their patience and understanding. We are working to improve access to treatment and return to NHS constitutional standards no later than March 2029.”
“In the meantime, we aim to treat our longest-waiting patients as soon as possible, while prioritising according to clinical need.”