The Priory Hospital
Priory Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands, B5 7UG DirectionsPhone
Opening hours
Mon - Fri: 6am - 9pm
Sat - Sun: 7am - 6pm
Car parking
Yes - 285 spaces
2 electric vehicle charging stations
Living with knee pain can be debilitating, especially if you have long-term damage to your knee joint caused by a chronic condition such as arthritis. While some people have mild knee pain that can be managed effectively with conservative treatment options such as physiotherapy and steroid injection medication, other people have more extensive damage to their joint and need knee replacement surgery to restore full function and mobility to their knee and get back to living life to the full.
At The Priory Hospital, our expert knee surgeons in Birmingham will build a tailored treatment plan around your needs, considering your physical and emotional wellbeing at every step of your journey with us. We offer fast access to appointments with a consultant of your choice - you'll usually find one within 48 hours, whether you book online or call us directly. From there, we'll work quickly to diagnose the source of your knee pain and tell you whether knee replacement surgery is the best treatment for you.
If you're looking for a private hospital near you, our private orthopaedic consultants are ready and waiting to help you.
After your consultation and diagnostic scans, if your consultant confirms you need a knee replacement, the cost of your surgery will differ depending on various factors, including which type of implant you have.
The typical cost of knee replacement surgery at The Priory Hospital in Birmingham starts from £13,325.*
Get in touch and we can give you a personalised quote, which will include surgical and anaesthetic fees, assessments, accommodation, the implant, and post-operative physiotherapy treatment. Your initial consultation, as well as any tests or scans you have during this time, will be charged separately.
If you are paying for yourself, you can take advantage of our flexible payment options, which allow you to spread the cost of treatment monthly across a period of up to five years.
If you have private health insurance, knee replacement surgery will usually be covered by your provider.
*This is a guide price for our self-pay patients. The final price will be confirmed in writing before you book your treatment.
Knee pain and limited mobility can be caused by many joint pain conditions, and it can also happen as the result of a traumatic injury, such as a rugby tackle or a bad fall on the football pitch. Some of the reasons why you might need knee replacement surgery include:
Osteoarthritis
This type of arthritis causes chronic pain and stiffness, which in turn has a negative impact on your overall mobility. This is the most common type of arthritis in the UK, occurring when the smooth cartilage which protects and cushions your joints becomes worn down over time. It tends to happen as we get older. Symptoms differ from person to person with osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
(RA) is an inflammatory joint condition caused by an autoimmune process, which occurs when your body mistakenly attacks its healthy cells. This often causes severe pain, swelling, inflammation and limited mobility.
A knee fracture
A knee fracture is a crack at the top of your thigh bone (femur) in your knee joint. They are usually caused by a traumatic injury such as a contact sports injury, but they can sometimes be caused by a condition that weakens your knee bone, such as osteoporosis.
At The Priory Hospital in Birmingham, we offer a variety of successful non-surgical treatment options for knee pain. For example, you might benefit from a course of physiotherapy, or your pain might be eased with injection therapy.
Knee injection therapy
Also known as steroid injection therapy, this treatment involves injections of steroid medication (corticosteroid) into your painful knee joint. This can effectively reduce pain and inflammation in your knee, and the effects can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. This form of pain relief may be recommended if you can't take oral anti-inflammatories for any reason.
Oral anti-inflammatories
These can either be prescribed by your GP or your consultant. They reduce swelling in your knee, which can lessen stiffness and pain. Your doctor might also recommend using heat therapy (in the form of icepacks or heat pads) to reduce swelling or numb joint pain. Heat therapy can be used as well as anti-inflammatory medication.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy for joint pain comprises a specialist exercise programme designed to strengthen the muscles around your joints, improving mobility and - in taking the pressure off your joints - reducing your pain. It can be a highly effective treatment and many people see brilliant results and significantly reduced (or even eliminated) symptoms with physiotherapy alone.
If the forms of pain relief listed above do not effectively alleviate your joint pain symptoms, it might be time to speak with an orthopaedic surgeon to discuss the possibility of having knee replacement surgery.
At your initial consultation, your consultant will take a detailed look at your medical history and ask you a series of in-depth questions about your symptoms, including when they began and how they affect your daily life. They will examine your knee carefully but might also recommend a diagnostic scan to confirm the cause of your symptoms. This could be an X-ray or MRI scan.
Your consultant will ensure that you understand the next steps required in your healthcare journey following your initial consultation. Remember, they are there to answer any questions you might have every step of the way.
Your preoperative assessment
This is a general health check prior to your surgery that can be performed by one of our nurses. This check includes a blood pressure test, and electrocardiogram (ECG) to examine your heart activity, and a peak flow test, which examines the function of your lungs. This is a fantastic opportunity to understand the general state of your health. You can ask your nurse or consultant any questions you might have about your health along the way.
The Priory Hospital is the largest private hospital in Birmingham, offering a wide range of treatment options and services with access to some of the latest technology and equipment. We opened our doors in September 1982 and have served the community for over 40 years.
The Priory Hospital is situated within private grounds in leafy Edgbaston, with Edgbaston Golf Club by its side. There are benches dotted around our site for visitors to use and enjoy the peace away from Birmingham city centre. Car parking is situated around the grounds of the hospital.
Our facilities: what you can expect
We continually invest millions in our state-of-the-art facilities, which include MRI machines and sophisticated scanning units managed by specialist radiologists. Your X-ray can be carried out on the day of your first appointment in the clinic.
The Priory Hospital also has an intensive care unit, offering care for emergency situations when needed. At The Priory Hospital, we have specialist physiotherapy gyms to help you recover as soon as possible follow your treatment. These gyms are fully equipped with a rower, specialist balance equipment, a bike, and more.
Our outpatient physiotherapy service is delivered at our sister hospital Circle Rehabilitation, less than a mile away from The Priory Hospital. Circle Rehabilitation boasts some of the latest equipment and technologies to help accelerate your recovery and manage your condition.
At The Priory Hospital, we have specialist physiotherapy gyms to help you recover as soon as possible follow your treatment. These gyms are fully equipped with a rower, specialist balance equipment, a bike, and more.
The Priory Hospital also has an intensive care unit, offering care for emergency situations when needed.
Your private room: what you can expect
Your private room will be complete with temperature control, as well as a television and nurse call system. Our rooms feature ensuite wet rooms with an accessible toilet and shower to help you use the bathroom safely, and sofa beds should your loved one or carer would like to stay with you overnight. Your healthcare team will be on hand to get you whatever you need to feel as comfortable as possible.
During your knee replacement at The Priory Hospital, your consultant will remove your damaged knee joint and replace each part with artificial components. These are usually made of metal, plastic, ceramic, or a combination of all three materials.
Your consultant will have tested the measurements of the implants to get the best possible fit. The better your new knee fits, the smoother and easier it will feel to move. Your consultant will ensure your new knee is fitted with accuracy and precision, dramatically improving your mobility and function.
“Knee replacements are becoming increasingly common. My patients want to be able to enjoy their life now and not be in pain or discomfort. They want to run around after the grandchildren, or get back on the golf course – basically resume any activity they have missed doing due to their arthritic knee pain.” Mr Marcus Green
After your implant is in your joint, your consultant will bend and move your leg to ensure you have the right level of flexibility. If so, they'll close the incision using dissolvable stitches. The outermost layer of your skin will be closed with glue or sutures.
A knee replacement operation (whether partial or total) typically takes one to two hours. After surgery, you will be taken to a recovery room to be monitored, then you'll be transferred to your private bedroom to start your recovery in comfort.
Your dedicated consultant at The Priory Hospital will ensure you receive the highest standards of clinical care and feel physically and emotionally supported throughout your journey with us.
"The staff were brilliant at The Priory Hospital. The service was on point. My consultant made sure he came and visited me three times to ensure my procedure went well. I would highly recommend the hospital to anyone."
We answer your frequently asked questions about our hospital.
How do I get to The Priory Hospital?
We are a 10-minute drive from Birmingham City Centre, a three-minute drive from Edgbaston Cricket Stadium, and a 10-minute drive from Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Is there parking at The Priory Hospital?
Yes, we have 285 regular spaces and 2 electric vehicle charging stations. We offer free parking for all our patients at the hospital.
Does The Priory Hospital offer treatment for children?
No, we do not offer treatment for children and young people under 18 years of age.
How long do I have to stay in hospital after a knee replacement?
You should be in hospital for up three days after surgery, but this depends on your individual circumstances. We will advise when it is safe for you to leave, and ensure you have all the information and equipment you need to continue your recovery at home.
When you go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:
- Flexible appointment times to fit your schedule
- The freedom to choose which consultant you see
- Bespoke, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
- Private ensuite rooms as standard, with tasty and nutritious meals cooked to your dietary requirements
- Support from the same compassionate clinical team from beginning to end
- Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
- Flexible payment options to help spread the cost of your care
If you want to know more about knee replacement surgery and find out if it's the right treatment for you, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009.
Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in January 22023. Next review due January 2026.
- Knee replacement surgery, Versus Arthritis
- Arthritis foundation, Arthritis.org
- The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis, The National Library of Medicine
