“You Just Need to Wait Another Year”
David, 62, lives in Glasgow.
He needs a hip replacement. Pain has persisted for two years, painkillers upgraded from ibuprofen to codeine. His GP finally referred him to orthopedics.
“Waiting time is about 42 weeks,” the surgeon said. “But specific dates depend on scheduling.”
42 weeks — 10 months. David will spend those 10 months in pain, on painkillers, with limited mobility, poor sleep.
And David is not alone. On the NHS Trauma & Orthopaedics waiting list, 860,865 others are waiting with him.
1. NHS Surgery Wait Times by Specialty
2024/25 Data
| Specialty | Patients Waiting | Median Wait | Extreme Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trauma & Orthopaedics | 860,865 | 42 weeks | 5.6 years (Tayside, Scotland) |
| Ophthalmology | ~600,000 | 40+ weeks | 1+ year (some regions) |
| General Surgery | ~450,000 | 25+ weeks | 1+ year |
| ENT | ~400,000 | 30+ weeks | 1.5+ years |
| Gynecology | ~350,000 | 20+ weeks | 1+ year |
| Cardiac Surgery | ~50,000 | 15+ weeks | 6+ months |
NHS total waiting list: over 7 million. Only 57.5% of orthopedic patients treated within 18 weeks. Government target: return to 92% standard by 2029 — 3+ years away.
Sources: [UK Parliament Written Questions, October 2025](https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-10-10/78679/); [HTN News, July 2025](https://htn.co.uk/2025/07/21/data-published-under-elective-care-reform-plan-highlights-waiting-list-size-and-inequalities/)
Scotland: 5.6 Years for a Hip
Scottish Labour FOI data:
Tayside: hip patient waited 2,049 days (5.6 years)Highlands: patient waited 1,786 daysKnee: longest wait 1,868 days (>5 years)> Source: [Daily Record, 2026](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/scots-waiting-half-decade-knee-36533460) > >
2. Canada: Equally Long Waits
| Surgery | Within Benchmark | Non-Compliant Patient Waits |
|---|---|---|
| Hip Replacement | 68% (6-month target) | Up to 2.5 years |
| Knee Replacement | 61% (6-month target) | Up to 2.5 years |
| Cataract | 70% (16-week target) | Up to 1+ year |
| National median (all specialties) | — | 30 weeks (2024 historic high) |
Sources: [CIHI, 2025](https://www.cihi.ca/en/wait-times-for-priority-procedures-in-canada-2025); [Fraser Institute, 2024](https://www.fraserinstitute.org/commentary/canadians-face-longest-waits-health-care-record)
3. The Cost of Waiting
Waiting for surgery isn’t like waiting for takeout. Every day you wait, your body pays:
Ongoing pain — escalating painkiller doses, accumulating side effectsFunctional decline — stiffer joints, atrophied musclesPsychological toll — anxiety, depression, inability to work and live normallyWorse surgical outcomes — longer waits correlate with poorer recoveryDisease progression risk — hernia strangulation, gallstone complications---
4. Surgery Fast-Track Through mymedvia
Our Speed
| Surgery | NHS/Canada Wait | Through mymedvia |
|---|---|---|
| Hip/Knee Replacement | 42 weeks to 5+ years | 1-2 weeks |
| Cataract Surgery | 40+ weeks | 2-5 days |
| Hernia Repair | 8-12 weeks | 1-2 weeks |
| Cholecystectomy | 8-12 weeks | 1-2 weeks |
| Hysterectomy | 20+ weeks | 1-2 weeks |
| Spinal Surgery | Months to 1 year+ | 1-2 weeks |
| Tonsillectomy | 30+ weeks | 1-2 weeks |
| Sinus Surgery | 30+ weeks | 1-2 weeks |
5. Our Process
Day 1 → Contact us through our website, describe condition and surgery need
Day 1-2 → Recommend best hospital and surgeon
Day 2-3 → Confirm surgery date and cost breakdown
Day 3-7 → Assist with visa and travel, fly to China
Day 4-8 → Pre-op exams (blood work, imaging, anesthesia assessment)
Day 5-10 → Surgery
Day 10-17 → Discharge (stay varies by surgery type)
From first contact to surgery completion — typically 1-2 weeks.
Related Articles
Learn more about [how surgery fast-track works](https://mymedvia.com/surgery-fast-track-china/how-surgery-fast-track-works-complete-process-from-consultation-to-discharge-2026-guide/) and [why choose fast-track surgery](https://mymedvia.com/surgery-fast-track-china/skip-surgery-wait-times-why-chinas-fast-track-surgery-2026-complete-guide/).
That’s 1/42 of the NHS average 42-week wait.
6. Why Choose Fast-Track Surgery?
| Cost of NHS Waiting | Value of Fast-Track |
|---|---|
| 42 weeks of pain | Significant pain relief after 1-2 weeks |
| Long-term painkiller dependency | Rapid reduction or cessation post-op |
| Cannot work or be with family | Return to normal life 6-12 weeks post-op |
| Muscle atrophy, joint function decline | Surgery before function degrades, better rehab outcomes |
| Constant anxiety and uncertainty | Definite dates and process, peace of mind |
7. Fast Surgery Saves More Than Time
Fast surgery not only relieves pain faster — it saves indirect costs during the wait:
Income loss: Waiting 1 year = 1 year of lost income. Surgery in 1-2 weeks + 12 weeks recovery = only 3 months of lost incomePainkiller costs: Stop long-term medicationCare costs: Family members stop taking leave to care for youMental health costs: Unquantifiable but real and heavy---
Contact mymedvia through our website. Tell us your situation. We’ll provide a clear surgical plan within 24 hours.
mymedvia — Stop waiting. Start living.
