The Journey to Recovery: Joanne Hiner’s Story
Joanne Hiner, a passionate police officer and avid horse rider from Rotherham, never allowed discomfort to deter her from pursuing her hobbies. However, the pain in her hips eventually became so severe that it hindered her ability to dismount from her beloved horse, Harvey. At 54 years old, she finally decided it was time to consult a specialist.
“The diagnosis was shocking,” Joanne recalled. “They informed me that arthritis had caused my hip to become bone on bone, and a replacement was necessary. I had ignored the problem for so long that I was in a terrible condition. I couldn’t even drive anymore.”
Joanne shared that the pain escalated to the point where she could manage to get onto Harvey but struggled to get off. “I realized I couldn’t even navigate the stairs anymore, and it was time for a check-up,” she said.
When she visited her local hospital, she was disheartened to learn that she would face a waiting period of three to six months for the surgery. However, when the timeframe elapsed with no updates, she was informed that she might have to wait an additional six to twelve months.
“I thought they were joking. It felt like my world was crumbling. I was also in the midst of planning my wedding,” she lamented.
As the waiting continued, Joanne’s health deteriorated further, leading her to rely on morphine to manage the pain. At this point, she was unable to perform her full duties as a police officer or even dress herself independently.
“I couldn’t even tend to my allotment anymore. Being a police officer, I was effectively housebound, primarily working from home since I couldn’t drive. This situation severely impacted my ability to do my job,” she explained. “Financially, it was a struggle as I was on basic pay and unable to take on any overtime.”
A friend introduced Joanne to the concept of the right to choose, which allows patients to select their hospital for treatment when referred by a GP for physical or mental health conditions. This right includes options for NHS and many private hospitals that offer services to the NHS. Her friend recommended Practice Plus Group Hospital in Barlborough, a village located 15 miles south of Rotherham.
Thanks to this knowledge, Joanne was able to secure a referral and was booked for surgery within weeks. In October 2022, she underwent a successful hip replacement.
Just six months later, her left hip also required replacement, and she followed the same process, having the surgery in May 2023, just in time for her wedding two weeks later.
Joanne’s experience reflects that of many patients who have utilized their right to choose private healthcare providers funded by the NHS, ensuring they are not left in pain for extended periods. In January, the government announced a new agreement between the health service in England and the independent sector aimed at reducing waiting lists and enhancing patient choice.
Under this agreement, private hospitals receive a fixed payment for each NHS patient they treat, with the goal of achieving the target of 92 percent of patients waiting less than 18 weeks for routine operations by the next election.
However, NHS England is considering a cap on total payments for private hospitals in 2025-26 to manage costs, which may require these facilities to continue accepting referrals. David Hare, chief executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, criticized this proposal as “completely unworkable,” warning that it could lead to fewer NHS-funded treatments, longer waiting times, and a loss of patient choice. The Department of Health and Social Care stated that the proposal is still under consultation.
Recent data revealed that the third quarter of 2024 saw the highest number of private hospital admissions in any year on record, with 223,000 admissions, an increase from 220,000 the previous year. Private medical insurance-funded admissions rose by 9 percent, from 151,000 to 158,000 in the same quarter.
While the waiting list for routine treatments on the NHS in England is gradually decreasing, with over 6.4 million people currently awaiting 7.4 million treatments, progress remains slow. Private operators were promised an additional £2.5 billion annually in government funding, bringing the total to nearly £16 billion, contingent on delivering extra appointments. Yet, Hare has warned Health Secretary Wes Streeting that independent hospitals feel the government has not upheld its end of the agreement.
For individuals like Joanne, this arrangement has been instrumental in alleviating pain and avoiding lengthy waits for necessary surgeries. Her mother, Linda Baker, 74, has also opted for private treatment, recently undergoing a pre-operative assessment at Thornbury Hospital in Sheffield.
“I believe it’s a beneficial system,” Joanne stated. “Some people ask if those working in private healthcare should transition to the NHS, but that wouldn’t solve the issue of bed availability. In my case, at the private hospital, I was in and out in a day. No unnecessary delays. If you recover well enough, you can return home the same day.”
The only lingering issue for Joanne is mild tendonitis in her hips following a recent car accident, which required some physiotherapy. However, she is back to work and enjoying riding Harvey once again. “Just a couple of weeks ago, I spent four hours on horseback galloping through the countryside. I couldn’t have done that before, could I?” she remarked with a smile.
