Steve Perry, who is a carpenter by trade, was struggling to work due to pain in his right knee. Discover how Steve’s knee arthroscopy, performed by Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Raman Thakur, helped him return to his trade after only one month.
Why did you choose Benenden Hospital?
“I chose to book an initial consultation with Benenden Hospital because I’ve been a member of Benenden Health for nearly 20 years. I was 17 when I joined and I live in Ashford which isn’t far from the hospital. These factors made my decision an easy one.
“Due to my carpentry business, SP Bespoke Limited, I’m on and off my knees for most of the working day. I’d been suffering with an arthritic-type of ache and pain in my right knee, so I booked an appointment with my GP because it was affecting my ability to work. I also noticed my general wellbeing was declining due to my knee discomfort.”
What happened during your treatment?
“My GP referred me to Benenden Hospital as it made sense for me to come here for further investigation. I had my initial consultation with Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Raman Thakur, in September 2022. From the first appointment he was very friendly and gave me lots of information and advice.
“I was recommended by Mr Thakur to have an MRI scan at the hospital to diagnose the problem with my knee. I had this scan in the on-site diagnostic imaging suite at Benenden Hospital only a week after my initial consultation. He explained the results to me thoroughly in layman’s terms. I had a tear on the left side of my right knee cartilage and the right side was badly worn.
“Mr Thakur explained that arthroscopy of my knee was the only treatment possible to recover from this level of damage. An arthroscopy is essentially a form of laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery used to explore and treat conditions within your joints. It is also a great preventative procedure, as I hopefully won’t need a total knee replacement in the future.”
“I had my knee arthroscopy surgery on 10 December, only a few months after my first appointment, which is a very short waiting time.”
Steve's knee arthroscopy journey
Steve had his knee arthroscopy after suffering from painful, debilitating symptoms. Listen to his story and patient journey at our CQC rated Outstanding private hospital.
How were the staff and facilities?
“My patient journey was excellent. The care and attention given to me by staff, and particularly by my Consultant, was supportive and informative. The medical facilities at Benenden Hospital are second to none.
“I remember when I came here almost 20 years ago and it inspired me to join Benenden Health for discounts on procedures. Since then, the hospital has undergone a refurbishment and the facilities have come on in leaps and bounds. It's in a lovely corner of the Kent countryside and the surroundings are quiet and calm. You get seen for your appointment very quickly and there’s a lovely café too, which helps! If you need a test or scan for a diagnosis, it can even be done on the same day, without having to come back to Benenden Hospital or go elsewhere. All the facilities are easy to access on-site.”
How long did it take to recover?
“It's been almost a month since my arthroscopy and my wellbeing has improved so much. Accessing treatment privately was very beneficial for me to get back to my carpentry business quickly. Mr Thakur advised my recovery time would be between four to eight weeks but after only three and a half weeks, I was back to work. I have much sturdier knee pads now, so my carpentry is painless! I really can’t fault the service here. I’ve added my parents, wife and daughter to my membership too.
What's your advice to tradespeople
“As a result of my amazing patient success story, I’ve recommended Benenden Hospital to my friends who are also tradesmen. Whether you’re a plumber, electrician, builder or carpenter like myself, other tradesmen can benefit from getting any health problems treated at this local private hospital. I wouldn’t have chosen anywhere else to have my surgery.”
You can find out more about our treatments for work-related injuries on our hub.
Considering private treatment?
Whether you want to access our tests and scans or GP service to diagnose a health concern, or you’re looking to have private orthopaedic surgery or another treatment, you can book a consultation today by completing our online booking form, contacting us via Livechat or by calling our Private Patient Team on 01580 363 158.
Published on 21 March 2023