Cawthorpe man has two NHS joint ops in less than six months using list switch 'hack'
A man from Cawthorpe is recovering from his second NHS joint replacement in under six months, after travelling more than 80 miles for surgery each time and using a little-known NHS right to switch hospitals and beat long waiting lists. He say’s if he hadn’t made the switch he’d still be waiting for his first joint surgery.
Former soldier Derrick Clarke, 63, is now recuperating at home following knee replacement surgery carried out two weeks ago at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham. His latest operation comes less than six months after he had a left hip replacement at the same hospital in September.
Derrick turned to NHS patient choice after spending more than six months waiting locally for hip surgery, with no operation date in sight. By asking his GP to refer him to Birmingham, where waiting times were significantly shorter, he was seen and treated within weeks.
When pain from severe osteoarthritis began to dominate his daily life, Derrick knew he could not afford to wait any longer.
“I was in constant, agonising pain,” Derrick said. “I could barely move and I couldn’t even walk my dogs. I was facing at least a year’s wait, possibly longer.”
A veteran of the Falklands War, the first Gulf War and Bosnia, Derrick learned through veteran charity Stepway that NHS patients have a legal right to choose where they receive treatment without losing time on a waiting list.
Within one week of requesting the referral, Derrick had his consultation, X-rays and tests. Just three weeks later, he underwent his first operation – a left hip replacement on September 1, 2024.
“Within a week I was walking completely unaided - not even a walking stick,” he said. “I had no pain at all and felt well enough to return to work within three weeks.”
Following the success of his hip surgery, Derrick returned for further assessment. His knee, which had initially been manageable, deteriorated rapidly as he compensated for his collapsed hip. He was offered surgery almost immediately and underwent knee replacement surgery two weeks ago.
“In under six months, I’d had both my hip and knee replaced,” Derrick said. “If I’d stayed where I was, I’d still be waiting for my first operation. I was nervous initially about switching lists as I didn’t want to go back to square one, but after speaking to the hospital team I had absolute trust in the process and want to encourage others to step away from long lists and explore quicker alternatives to get their surgery sooner.
"Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham has been absolutely fantastic and I am so glad I made the switch and that my GP supported my decision once he understood it was possible. I had to explain to him what I’d learned from Stepway about patient choice, but once he’d made the referral I had my first appointment within a week.”
Hip and knee replacements remain among the most pressured NHS procedures nationwide, with many patients waiting well over a year for surgery. As a newer, independent hospital with available capacity, Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham was able to treat Derrick in weeks rather than months.
Now working as a carpenter and maintenance specialist at a private school, Derrick believes years of military service contributed to his joint problems. His injuries have been formally recognised as service-related, and as a war pensioner he says the veteran-aware approach at the hospital made a real difference.
“There’s a charter saying veterans shouldn’t be left behind, but not every hospital acts on it,” Derrick said. “Here, you see it on the walls and you feel it in how you’re treated. Everyone understands.”
Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham is veteran-accredited and works closely with the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance.
Former military nurse Samantha Doubleday, Hospital Director at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham and lead of the group’s Veteran Aware programme, said: “Derrick’s experience shows just how powerful NHS patient choice can be. By switching providers, he was able to receive not one but two joint replacements in under six months - care he would still be waiting for today had he stayed on his original list.
“We are incredibly proud of the outcomes our teams achieve, particularly for veterans whose injuries are often linked to years of service. Our focus is on delivering timely, high-quality care and helping patients get back to their best as quickly as possible.”
Now pain-free and looking ahead, Derrick says travelling from Peterborough to Birmingham was more than worth it.
“I’ve got my independence back. My wife and I have bought a campervan and we plan to make full use of it, exploring the UK for holidays – something I wouldn’t even have considered had I not had surgery. I thought I was only good for early retirement as I was in so much pain, but now I can keep the job I love and have quality free time too.” he said. “If sharing my story encourages even one person to switch lists and get treated sooner, it’s worth it.”
NHS patients can ask their GP for a referral to Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham. Private patients can book directly through Wellsoon private healthcare from Practice Plus Group, where hip and knee replacement patients can expect treatment within 4–6 weeks of seeing a consultant.