How long is the NHS wait for knee replacement surgery in the B postcode area?

Patients living in the B postcode area (Birmingham) are typically referred to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust or Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. The current median NHS wait for knee replacement surgery across these trusts is approximately 11 weeks. The 92nd percentile (long-tail) wait can extend to 37 weeks. There are 8,946 patients currently waiting on the Trauma & Orthopaedics pathway across these trusts.

Which NHS trust covers the B postcode?

B postcodes are primarily served by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. NHS England publishes waiting time data per trust, not per postcode, so this is the closest accurate breakdown for Birmingham residents. Under NHS Patient Choice rules you can also ask your GP to refer you to a different trust with a shorter wait — this is your legal right.

How much does private knee replacement surgery cost near Birmingham?

Private knee replacement surgery in the UK typically costs £11,000–£17,500, with a typical price around £13,500. Most major UK cities have private hospitals from Spire, Nuffield, Circle, or HCA Healthcare offering this procedure with a typical wait of 2–4 weeks. Always confirm the exact total cost (including consultation, surgery, anaesthesia, follow-ups) before booking.

Will going private affect my NHS care if I live in B?

No. You can self-fund private treatment without losing your place on the NHS waiting list and without affecting your future NHS care. Many patients use private providers to access faster surgery while keeping the NHS option as a free backup.

Can I be referred to an NHS trust outside the B area?

Yes. Under NHS Patient Choice rules you can ask your GP to refer you to any NHS trust in England — not just the one closest to your home. If a trust elsewhere has a shorter waiting list, you can request a referral there. Travel costs for treatment further from home are your own responsibility.

Knee replacement surgery in the B postcode area

If you live in the B postcode area (Birmingham), your GP will most likely refer you to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust or Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. The current median NHS wait for knee replacement surgery is 11 weeks. Private treatment from £11,000.

NHS

Faster than the national average

11 weeks

Median wait for B residents

92nd percentile wait:: 37 weeks
Patients waiting:: 8,946
Seen within 18 weeks:: 68%

Free at the point of use. Aggregated from 2 NHS trusts.

Private

Days, not weeks

£13,500

Typical UK private price

Lowest published:: £11,000
Highest published:: £17,500
Typical wait:: 2–4 weeks

Self-fund or use health insurance. Major UK groups: Spire, Nuffield, Circle, HCA.

Important context

NHS waiting-time figures are published at trust or specialty level and private prices are indicative ranges. Local eligibility, referral route, clinical urgency, provider package and insurance status can change the real-world choice. TreatCompare is for comparison only and is not medical, legal or financial advice.

Source type: Official NHS waiting-time data and private price model
Primary source: NHS England Referral to Treatment waiting-time data
Reporting period: Mar 2026
Last updated: 2026-05-22
Figure type: Mixed sources
Use: Research and comparison only

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Next step

Check nearby options for B residents

Postcode pages answer the wait question. These links help users compare wider local options and private routes.

See Birmingham city pageTrust-level wait breakdown Calculate wait vs costWeeks saved and monthly cost Private GP referralStart with a referral

Calculator

Is going private worth it for knee replacement surgery?

Adjust the wait and quote to estimate weeks saved, cost per week saved and simple monthly equivalents.

8 weeks saved

NHS wait

11 wk

Private quote

Private wait

3 wk

Time saved

8 weeks

Cost per week saved

£1,688

Monthly equivalent

£1,125/mo

or £563/mo over 24 months

This is a planning aid only. Actual quotes, insurance coverage and finance terms vary by provider.

How postcode waits work: NHS England publishes wait times per NHS trust, not per postcode. We have mapped B postcodes to the trusts that most commonly accept Birmingham residents. Your actual wait depends on which trust your GP refers you to — and under NHS Patient Choice you can ask to be referred to any trust in England, not just the local one.

2 NHS trusts serving B postcodes

NHS Trust	Median wait	92nd %ile	Patients waiting	< 18 wks
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust RRK	9 wk	28 wk	3,556	76%
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust RXK	13 wk	37 wk	5,390	62%

See the full Birmingham city breakdown

TreatCompare also publishes a per-city version of this comparison with full NHS trust details and city-wide aggregates.

Knee replacement surgery in Birmingham →