10/08/2026
“I was told I couldn’t do it.”
This is something we hear far too often from NHS patients.
One of our recent patients was told she'd be waiting 15 months for a hip replacement and contacted us because she wanted to understand whether she had any options to reduce her wait.
We identified an NHS-partnered private hospital with a significantly shorter waiting time - around 3 months. Being NHS-Partnered meant she could be treated without cost to her, despite it being a private hospital. Yes, really.
She took the information to her GP — but was told that she couldn't transfer because she'd have to go to the bottom of the new hospital's waiting list.
Understandably, she was disappointed and was very close to giving up.
But she didn't. She got in contact with us again.
With our support - She asked more questions. She spoke to her practice. She contacted the relevant teams. She kept pushing for an answer.
Eventually, her GP surgery re-sent her referral to the hospital we'd identified.
Within days, she had an appointment with a consultant.
She had her X-rays, was assessed and was told that she needs both hips replaced — with the first operation expected within 3 months.
That's a fantastic outcome.
And perhaps the most important part of the story is this:
She nearly gave up.
The NHS can be complicated. Referral pathways aren't always easy to understand, and sometimes patients are given information that doesn't explain the whole picture.
Being told “you'll have to go to the bottom of the waiting list” can sound like there's no point changing hospitals.
But the important question isn't simply:
“Will I go to the bottom of their list?”
It's:
“How long is that list?”
If you're currently facing a very long wait, being at the bottom of a much shorter list could still mean getting treated considerably sooner.
We're not suggesting that everyone should challenge their GP or that every transfer will be appropriate.
What we are saying is:
Don't assume that the first answer means you have no options.
Ask questions. Understand your choices. And if something doesn't make sense, ask for the reasoning behind it.
Our patient summed it up perfectly after finally getting her referral through:
“I could easily have given up.”
And that's exactly why we started StopWaiting.
Because sometimes the biggest barrier isn't that there isn't an option.
It's simply that nobody has shown you what your options are.
If you're waiting for treatment and want to understand whether there may be a faster NHS-funded route available, that's what we do.
We research the available NHS-partnered hospitals and their current waiting times and put the options into a clear, straightforward plan you can take to your GP.
We're rated 'Excellent' on TrustPilot for a reason.
You may have more choice than you realise.
Find out more at www.stopwaiting.co.uk
