My Medical Gateway Blog

A recent report by ITV Cymru Wales highlights a story that has become increasingly familiar to My Medical Gateway. Susan Marks, a 59-year-old teacher from Abergavenny, made the decision last year to travel to Lithuania for knee replacement surgery after being told she was “too young” to be added to the NHS waiting list. Her experience, reported by ITV Wales correspondent Richard Morgan, shines a light on the growing gap between clinical need and access to timely care in the UK.

Susan’s knee problems stem from injuries sustained in a car accident in 2017. By her early fifties she was living with acute pain in both knees, relying on a walking stick and struggling with everyday tasks. Despite being told at one stage that she was eligible for double knee replacement surgery, she says she was later advised there was little point joining the NHS waiting list because of her age. Instead, she was offered ongoing pain management.

For Susan, this was not a sustainable solution. As she told ITV News, she reached a point where she could no longer walk her dog comfortably or manage simple trips to the shop. More importantly, she was still working full time and wanted to remain active and independent. Faced with the prospect of years on strong painkillers, she decided to explore private treatment overseas.

Her research led her to Nordorthopaedics in Kaunas, Lithuania, a specialist orthopaedic provider with a strong international reputation. Nordorthopaedics, together with its two sister clinics, was the first healthcare group to be accredited to the MMG platform in December 2024, following an extensive clinical, governance and outcomes review. Last summer, Susan travelled to Kaunas for robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery on her right knee. The total cost, including aftercare, was just under £10,000.

While this is a significant sum, it was a price she felt justified given the alternative of continued pain and declining mobility. The outcome, by her own account, exceeded expectations. Susan told ITV Cymru Wales that she experienced very little swelling or bruising and was able to walk within 24 hours of surgery. Post-operative imaging showed an excellent result and her recovery has progressed well. So positive has the experience been that she now plans to return to Lithuania in 2026 to have her second knee replaced.

The NHS response to Susan’s case is also telling. Aneurin Bevan University Health Board stated that there is no formal age exclusion for knee replacement surgery but acknowledged that patients are often advised to delay the procedure because joint replacements typically last around ten years. The Welsh Government has emphasised recent progress in reducing waiting times, particularly in orthopaedics, while encouraging patients who consider private care to research providers carefully and ensure they are reputable and accredited.

Susan’s response is one MMG hears often: decisions should be based on individual clinical need, not broad thresholds or blanket guidance. For patients in constant pain, still working and keen to remain active, being told to wait years can feel less like clinical prudence and more like denial of care.

This is precisely the space in which medical travel has grown. Across Europe, there are world-class orthopaedic centres offering advanced procedures, including robotic-assisted surgery, at prices significantly lower than those charged privately in the UK. Many of these hospitals operate to EU standards, are internationally accredited and treat large numbers of international patients each year.

At My Medical Gateway, our role is to ensure that patients who choose this path do so safely and with confidence. The accreditation of Nordorthopaedics and its sister clinics in December 2024 marked an important milestone for MMG, reflecting our commitment to identifying providers that combine clinical excellence, transparency and value.

Medical travel is not about abandoning the NHS. It is about choice, dignity and timely access to care when waiting is no longer viable. Susan Marks’ journey, as reported by ITV Cymru Wales, is a reminder that behind the statistics are individuals simply seeking to live without pain.

As demand continues to rise, stories like Susan’s are unlikely to be the last. What matters is that patients who look abroad do so with trusted guidance and accredited providers. At MMG, that remains our core mission.