FAQs

You can directly book appointments via this link to circle hospitals Online booking (circlehealthgroup.co.uk). Alternatively please contact my PA Lucy on 07488 358680 OR lucy.nolan@circlehealthpartners.co.uk

Typically  appointments can be made within a week. Mr Wheelton has a clinic every Monday at the Highfield hospital and alternate Thursday’s at Huddersfield hospital.

You do not need a GP or specialist to refer you to Mr Wheelton unless this is required by your insurance company. It is often helpful to see a gp first, however.

Please contact Lucy on 07488 358680 or via lucy.nolan@circlehealthpartners.co.uk prior to your appointment if you have had any previous relevant tests. It can be helpful for us to try to obtain any recent scans and x-rays before your appointment to avoid duplication, unnecessary radiation and additional cost to you.

Typically the insurance policy would cover the initial consultation cost but this depends upon the type of insurance you have. There may be an excess to be paid. Please check with your insurer before your appointment to ensure you are aware of what costs you may or may not be liable to. The initial and follow up consultation fees are fee assured which means you will not be charged over the agreed fees we have with your insurer.

Please visit my fees page.

This can be discussed at the time of the appointment and a future date for treatment can be arranged at a mutually convenient time. Most insurers cover the cost of inpatient treatment. If you are a self pay patient then a package cost can be obtained in advance from Highfield and Huddersfield hospitals before you commit to the procedure, finance options are available.

You will have the opportunity to meet the anaesthetist before your surgery to discuss options of which anaesthetic. Most joint replacements will be done under a spinal anaesthetic with sedation, some patients prefer to have a general anaesthetic as well. The final choice will be made taking account of your preferences balanced with the anaesthetists opinion.

You will be advised to avoid driving initially until you regain good control and strength in  your muscles. A period of 4 to 6 weeks of no driving is advised. You may resume driving after that period once you are able to do an emergency stop and safely control the car.

Once at home, you should try to keep reasonably active, try to walk two or three times a day with your crutches.

There is no strict protocol and patients increase their activities at different rates. It is probably sensible not to try and do too much too soon.

I normally suggest to patients to take it fairly steady for the first six weeks to allow the repaired muscles around the hip and knee time to heal. The physio teams will give clear advice on exercise progression.

How long patients require crutches is often very variable. Some can discard these within a few weeks but it can sometimes take quite a bit longer than this.

After hip replacement surgery there may be some precautions you’ll have to take which will be shown to you when you are  in hospital. Adaptations such as a raised toilet seat will be provided. These will be required for a short period of time usually six weeks. After knee replacement surgery you may struggle to kneel – this can be lifelong. There are no specific restrictions.