N.Hatton suffered from osteoarthritis for three years until last September when the pain became so severe that she could no longer walk, reported The Mirror. An X-ray revealed that her hip joint was completely worn out – according to doctors, “bone was rubbing against bone,” so an urgent joint replacement was needed.
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“It felt like someone had poured shards of glass into my hip. I have given birth to twins, so I know what unbearable pain is, but this was equal to that,” the woman recalled. “I swallowed painkillers one after another: as soon as the time came to take the next pill, I did so. I reached the limit where I could no longer go anywhere… I gained weight, and all of this just crushed me.”
The woman, who works at a homeless support organization and constantly cares for her disabled adult son, was given crutches and waited in agony for four months. Finally, during a home visit to administer pain relief medication, she was given unpleasant news: although she was on the National Health Service (NHS) waiting list, she would have to wait at least another 12–18 months for the surgery.
Realizing she could not wait that long, the Briton began researching private clinic prices in the United Kingdom. However, there the surgery would have cost between £20,000 and £25,000 (about €23,000–29,000). The solution came unexpectedly – in a Facebook group, N.Hatton found information about a clinic located in Kaunas where this surgery cost £8,600 (about €10,000).
According to The Mirror, this April the woman flew to Lithuania for the surgery and says she has not regretted it for a moment.
“The difference is huge. Everything changed like day and night. Although only 13 weeks have passed since the surgery, I get up easily in the mornings, climb stairs up and down without difficulty. Only after the surgery did I realize how much that pain had affected my mood,” N.Hatton rejoiced.
Growing crisis and thousands of medical tourists
Nicky’s story is just a drop in the ocean reflecting the growing crisis in the United Kingdom’s healthcare system. Recent data shows that waiting lists for planned treatment in England are growing again and currently stand at 7.3 million visits. At the end of May, 6.16 million patients were waiting in line for 7.28 million procedures. Officials say that even summer heatwaves now cause the NHS the same strain that was previously felt only in winter.
“There is simply a shortage of doctors, nurses, and too little investment in NHS hospitals. They simply cannot provide help to everyone who needs it because the infrastructure just isn’t there,” criticized the country’s system the Briton who received help from Lithuanian doctors.
For this reason, more and more Britons are choosing treatment abroad. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in 2024, as many as 523,000 UK residents traveled abroad for medical services (compared to 431,000 in 2023 and 348,000 in 2022).
Meanwhile, those who cannot afford or do not want to go abroad are increasingly turning to the local private sector. Data reveals that the number of private hospital patients in the United Kingdom has broken records for the fourth consecutive year. In 2025, 953,000 Britons paid for private care. The majority of this growth was driven by employer-paid private health insurance.
Responding to the situation, government representatives defend themselves and emphasize that after the changes in power in July, waiting lists are gradually shortening. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care stated: “No one should be forced to choose private services or go abroad for treatment. Since July 2024, we have reduced the overall waiting list by 340,000. We know there is still much work to do, but with record funding and the latest technologies, we will ensure that people receive safe and timely care free of charge.”
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