How to check an orthopaedic surgeon and private hospital

The hospital's registration comes first

Independent hospitals in England register with the Care Quality Commission. CQC's guidance states that service providers must register, that CQC registers the regulated activity being carried on rather than a service type or profession, and that the legal entity carrying on the activity registers rather than the location (CQC, page last updated 29 January 2025). Its public directory carries inspection reports and ratings for hospitals and clinics (find care services).

Elsewhere in the UK the equivalents are Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority in Northern Ireland.

Then the surgeon, and the implant record

The General Medical Council holds the public register of doctors in the UK, showing registration status, whether a doctor holds a licence to practise, and whether they are on the specialist register and in which specialty. Search it on the GMC's own website and check the specialty is trauma and orthopaedic surgery.

The NHS notes that after knee replacement surgery you will be asked whether you consent to your personal details and the details of your knee replacement going to the National Joint Registry, which it says collects and monitors details of knee replacements to help improve patient safety, experience and outcomes. Ask a private provider whether they submit to the registry. Separately, the Private Healthcare Information Network, which describes itself as a government-mandated, industry-certified independent organisation, publishes information on private consultants and hospitals including safety, quality and cost.

Questions to ask the surgeon directly

1. Ask how many knee replacements they carry out in a typical year, and what proportion are partial.
2. Ask which implant they intend to use and why, and whether it is submitted to the National Joint Registry.
3. Ask what happens if you develop a complication after discharge, where you would be seen, and what that would cost.
4. Ask how many physiotherapy sessions are included and what happens once they run out.

We name no best surgeon and no best hospital. Registers, inspection reports, registry participation and the answers you get in writing are more useful to you than any ranking we could produce, and we would not be qualified to produce one.