Patients living in Ealing who need a hip or knee replacement could soon be heading home just hours after surgery instead of spending several days in hospital.
The change is being introduced across boroughs in north west London including Ealing by North-West Elective Orthopaedic Centre after doctors successfully tested a new approach aimed at getting suitable patients back into their own homes sooner.
For years, joint replacement patients routinely stayed in hospital while recovering. Now, some are being discharged on the day of their operation and continuing their recovery with pain medication and physiotherapy support at home.
Doctors stress the option will not be suitable for everyone and patients will only be discharged if it is considered safe.
Orthopaedic surgeon Ali Zain Naqvi said the approach had already worked well for a number of patients, including an 83-year-old who returned home on the day of a partial knee replacement.
