Understanding Hip Replacement Surgery Access and Wait Times in New Zealand 2025

Did you know that wait times for hip replacement surgery in New Zealand vary significantly by region and hospital? This article provides an overview of surgical options, differences in hospital wait times, surgeon availability, and efforts underway to improve access to hip replacement surgery across the country

Current Hip Replacement Surgery Options in New Zealand

Hip replacement surgeries in New Zealand primarily occur within the public hospital system, focusing on elective procedures for patients with severe joint degeneration as determined by specialist assessment. The surgical procedure aligns with standard orthopaedic hip replacement methods, generally involving removal of the damaged hip joint and replacement with an artificial implant.

Public Hospital Procedures: Most surgeries are conducted through district health boards (DHBs) in public hospitals.
Private Sector Involvement: To help manage waiting lists in the public system, Health New Zealand contracts with private providers to perform a number of hip replacements. During the 2024/2025 financial year, about 990 hip replacements were outsourced to private hospitals. This approach aims to reduce wait times, though considerations about sustainability and equity of care exist.
Prioritization Based on Clinical Assessment: Regional clinical severity scores guide prioritization for surgery, indicating the extent of joint disease. For example, Southland requires a score of 70 or above, whereas Tairāwhiti accepts patients with scores as low as 20.
Referral Process: Patients typically require a referral from a General Practitioner (GP) to an orthopaedic specialist for assessment, which is necessary before placement on surgery waitlists. However, capacity limitations affect timely specialist access.

Hospitals with Relatively Shorter Wait Times for Hip Replacement Surgery

Wait times to receive hip replacement surgery differ considerably depending on location and hospital resources—sometimes referred to as a “postcode lottery.” Factors influencing wait times include surgeon availability, hospital capacity, and regional prioritization practices. As of 2025:

Christchurch Hospital reports the shortest average wait time for hip replacements at around 128 days, approaching the national target of a maximum four-month wait (about 120 days). This hospital provides comparatively better access within the public system.
Hawke’s Bay Hospital has moderate wait times that still exceed the national four-month target.
Southland and West Coast Regions experience notably longer wait times, with Southland averaging over 454 days in 2024 and similar durations expected in 2025.

Hospitals like Middlemore manage large waitlists, but delays at the initial specialist appointment stage can extend to nearly 47 weeks.

Impact of Surgeon and Specialist Availability on Access

Surgeon availability significantly affects access to hip replacement surgery:

Southland Observations: Dr. Chuck Luecker from Southland notes many patients receive surgery only once their hip joint has worsened considerably—approximately 40% show severe deterioration related to long wait times.
Wairarapa Hospital Staffing: The resignation of two orthopaedic surgeons at Wairarapa Hospital has increased wait times. Though official reports highlight timely elective surgery completion, patient reports suggest waits of 12–15 months or more. Recruitment of new surgeons is planned for 2025.
Workforce Challenges: Staffing shortages and clinician burnout contribute to service constraints, occasionally leading to suspension of new referrals due to inability to provide timely assessment and treatment.

Before hip replacement surgery can be scheduled, patients must see an orthopaedic specialist, which introduces additional waiting periods:

Referral Challenges: Limited resources mean GPs often face difficulties securing prompt specialist consultations for patients. For example, Middlemore Hospital’s orthopaedic specialist wait time averaged 47 weeks in 2025.
Service Capacity Issues: Some centers, such as Palmerston North, have paused accepting orthopaedic referrals due to demands exceeding capacity.
Assessment Criteria: Referrals are reviewed against varying regional clinical standards. Patients not meeting these may be directed to non-surgical management options like physiotherapy.

Ongoing Efforts to Address Wait Times

Several strategies are in place to improve patient access and reduce wait times for hip replacement surgery nationally:

Private Sector Outsourcing: Approximately 1,000 hip replacements were outsourced to private hospitals during 2024/2025 to enhance access speed, although concerns exist regarding potential impacts on the public system and surgical training.
Increasing Public Surgical Capacity: Health New Zealand encourages extended surgeon working hours and resource optimization to address backlogs.
Standardizing Prioritization Metrics: Work is ongoing to harmonize clinical severity scoring nationwide to promote equitable waitlist admission, though full implementation timelines remain undefined.
Recruitment Initiatives: Active hiring of additional orthopaedic specialists in regions with staff shortages aims to improve service stability.

Costs and Private Surgery Considerations

While the public system is the primary provider of hip replacements, private surgery offers an alternative for those able to cover the expense:

Private Surgery Expenses: Costs for private hip replacement surgery typically range from NZD 25,000 to 35,000, covering surgery, hospital stay, and related care.
Potential Advantages: Private surgery may provide faster scheduling and greater flexibility but is not accessible to all.
Patient Advice: Individuals considering private surgery should consult with healthcare professionals regarding benefits, risks, and insurance factors.

Summary

In 2025, patients in New Zealand seeking hip replacement surgery navigate a system characterized by regional variations and capacity constraints. Public hospitals are the main providers, with wait times influenced by surgeon availability and hospital resources. Christchurch Hospital offers the shortest waits, nearing national targets, whereas other regions face extended delays often over a year.

Early barriers include securing timely specialist assessments, delaying placement on surgical waitlists. National efforts, including outsourcing surgeries to private providers and increasing surgical capacity, aim to reduce these backlogs. However, challenges remain involving prioritization fairness and sustainability. Patients should collaborate closely with general practitioners to understand referral pathways and stay informed about wait time developments. Private surgery provides another option but involves significant financial costs. Continued recruitment and resource optimization initiatives remain key to improving equitable and timely access to hip replacement surgery across New Zealand.