National register will monitor hip replacements

A national register to monitor the long term performance of hip replacements in England is planned by the Department ofHealth to address widespread variations in the costs and effectiveness of such operations in the NHS.

The move comes in response to recommendations made this month in reports from the National Audit Office and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). The reports identified significant differences around the country in the quality of hip replacement services and in the type of prostheses used.

About 30000 people a year have hips replaced on the NHS in England, at a cost of £140m ($224m). Some 10% of these patients develop complications and may have to undergo repeat operations, the National Audit Office's investigation …