Suffolk farmer Edward Turner with knee pain gets surgery in France after being told to wait minimum 18 months for NHS treatment

A livestock farmer from Suffolk, who suffered two years of increasingly intolerable knee pain, received surgery in France after being told to wait a minimum of 18 months for NHS treatment.

Edward Turner, 79, had undergone physiotherapy on the NHS but due to the delay for a replacement knee, he looked privately in England with his partner Sally but found the £17,500 costs too expensive.

Eventually, Mr Turner opted to get surgery with Elite Surgery Abroad at Pauchet Santé, based in Amiens, France, and took the trip with his partner Sally Grimwood.

Mr Turner said: “After a virtual consultation with orthopaedic surgeon Dr Maxime Louis Menciere, ESA offered a complete package, with one figure, and, importantly, the surgery could be done almost straight away.

“We would not have to join any other long queues and the hospital was just a four-hour drive from our home.”

“Having been told on the Wednesday that I was suitable for surgery, I presented myself for the operation on the Friday.”

He added: “Sally went out for a walk for a few hours and by the time she came back it was all over.

“The surgeon came to see me an hour later and said he was really pleased, as were all the nurses.

“They were all very jolly and seemed to have a tremendous team spirit.”