Sarah Thyer travelled to Lithuania to get a hip replacement and said her quality of life has improved so much since her surgery
Sarah Thyer had her hip replacement abroad (Image: John Myers)
By her early 50s Sarah Thyer had already been through one hip replacement with the NHS – an experience she described as “excellent” and without fault. But nearly a decade later, when her second hip deteriorated, the situation felt very different.
At 60 years old the pain came on quickly and intensely. Within a year Sarah found herself relying on a walking stick, unable to carry out daily routines, and also affecting her career which required simple tasks like driving and walking. Sarah also could no longer live the active lifestyle she had always enjoyed.
The charity worker, from Sketty in Swansea, was told the wait for surgery on the NHS could be two to three years. While she had no complaints about the care she’d previously received this time she knew she couldn’t wait that long.
The turning point for Sarah came after the death of her father. Having spent time caring for him during his illness Sarah found herself facing both grief and physical pain at once. It was in that moment, she said, that her perspective shifted. Sarah said living in constant discomfort no longer seemed like something she was willing to accept.
Sarah Thyer after her hip replacement in Lithuania(Image: Sarah Thyer)
Determined to take control Sarah began researching alternatives and ultimately chose to travel to Lithuania for treatment at Nordorthopaedics Clinic. It wasn’t an easy decision.
She went alone, just weeks after her father’s death, describing the experience as “terrifying” at first. But she also saw it as an opportunity not just to address her physical health but to reset mentally after a difficult period in her life.
Her treatment package, costing around £8,500, included surgery, hospital care, and a 10-day rehabilitation programme. After two nights in hospital Sarah moved to a medical spa facility where she underwent intensive physiotherapy with multiple sessions each day. The routine was demanding, and at times lonely, but it allowed her to focus entirely on her recovery.
A year later the results have been life-changing. Sarah is now pain-free and has returned to many of the activities she once feared she might lose – swimming, cycling, and even bodyboarding. Within six weeks of surgery she was back in the water.
Sarah is now back to her active lifestyle (Image: John Myers)
Sarah has rebuilt her strength and confidence, sticking closely to her physiotherapy plan and taking a careful and measured approach to recovery.
Today she speaks not just about the physical transformation but the emotional one too. Regaining mobility has meant regaining independence. Simple things like driving with ease and staying active have restored a sense of normality that had slipped away during her worst months of pain. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here.
Sarah and her friends enjoying a group cold-water dip (Image: John Myers)
A spokesman for Swansea Bay University Health Board said: “The health board has worked extremely hard to reduce waiting times. As a result the longest a patient will have to wait for surgery is two years – though many do not have to wait that long. In fact patients who had planned replacement hip surgery with us during the first three months of 2026 had waited an average of 71 weeks since their initial referral.
“We know that being fit and well before surgery supports recovery and improves outcomes. So we have a specialist Waiting Well team which contacts patients once they are added to the list offering a full range of support aimed at helping them prepare for treatment.
“We also have a comprehensive web section with an extensive range of information and resources, which patients are directed to.”
Sarah remains clear that her decision was deeply personal. She still holds the NHS in high regard and said she would have been happy to undergo surgery there again if the wait had been shorter. But for her, at that point in her life, the urgency to move forward outweighed everything else.
Now, one year on from her surgery in March 2025, Sarah’s focus is firmly on the future. She stays active, looks after her health, and approaches life with a renewed sense of appreciation. “I just didn’t want to spend years waiting in pain,” she said. “Now I can get on with living.”
A spokesman for the Welsh Government said: “If people are considering undergoing private healthcare it’s important they research it properly. The approval process is undertaken by each health board and guidance is available on local health board sites.
“We would encourage people to check they are dealing with someone reputable, ask to see their qualifications, ask about complications and side effects and, if possible, speak to other people who have been treated at the same clinic or hospital.”
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