Faster joint surgery referral

For the first time, it stipulates that age, obesity, gender, smoking, or people’s other illnesses should not dissuade GPs from referring them for joint replacement surgery where this is clinically appropriate.

Breaking with a past in which people were often kept waiting until their joints had worn out, the new NICE guidelines recommend action before people experience severe pain or prolonged loss of function. This may include consideration for surgery once osteoarthritis starts having a “substantial impact” on quality of life.