NHS Golden Jubilee is the largest hip and knee replacement centre in the UK
NHS Golden Jubilee has officially become the largest centre for hip and knee replacements in the United Kingdom, marking a major milestone in the delivery of orthopaedic care across NHS Scotland.
In the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, NHS Golden Jubilee performed 4,308 hip and knee replacements, surpassing all other UK centres in Britain during that period, according to official data from the National Joint Registry (NJR).
This represented a 29.6% increase in procedures compared to the previous year (3,323 in 2023/24), reflecting the hospital’s commitment to expanding capacity and reducing NHS waiting times.
Numbers are increasing again this year as NHS Golden Jubilee is currently on track to deliver more than 5,900 hip and knee replacements for 2025/26 (1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026) – around 1,600 more the previous year.
Professor Chris Gee, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Associate Medical Director, said: “This achievement is about more than numbers – it’s about providing timely, high-quality care for patients who have waited too long for surgery.
“With 8 orthopaedic theatres currently in use, and plans to expand to 10, our team of up to 27 surgeons is working to deliver up to four procedures per theatre each day, significantly increasing Scotland’s surgical capacity.
“We’re proud to serve as a national resource for patients across Scotland.
“Our streamlined elective care model – including single rooms, integrated pre-assessment, and same-day discharge for hip and partial knee replacements – allows us to deliver efficient, patient-centred care even as the NHS faces significant pressures.”
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, said: “My congratulations to the staff at the Golden Jubilee who have helped the hospital become the largest centre for hip and knee replacements in the UK – this is a truly outstanding achievement and highlights the key role the hospital is playing in helping bring down waits in Scotland.
“Our plan is delivering – with latest figures showing waits of over a year have decreased for 8 consecutive months, with new outpatient waits of more than 52 weeks more than halving since
July 2025. We are determined to continue to build on this momentum and the Golden Jubilee has a crucial part to play in this.”
The Orthopaedic department is part of the hospital’s National Elective Services (NES) division and has a multidisciplinary approach to care with consultants, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists all working together for one purpose – the benefit of Scottish patients.
Pioneering staff continue to provide the highest possible standard of care as, compared to non-robotic surgery, NHS Golden Jubilee patients are benefitting from greater implant accuracy, reduced soft tissue damage and less blood loss.
Robotic surgery has the potential to have significant long-term benefits to patients and the NHS as a whole, by reducing the likelihood of patients requiring repeat joint replacements in later life, with the aim of saving millions for NHS Scotland in future years.
Person-centred care extends to the hospital’s Clinical Outcomes and Research Study (CORS) database, which tracks patient outcomes through follow-up questionnaires, helping ensure continuous improvement in care quality as patients return to their regional health boards.
This commitment to data-driven care is unique in Scotland and supports the hospital’s mission to lead in both volume and value.
Lynne Ayton, Executive Director of Operations at NHS Golden Jubilee, added: “High surgical volumes are linked to better outcomes, but what matters most is that our patients are getting the care they need, when they need it. That’s what drives us every day.
“At NHS Golden Jubilee we’re demonstrating how innovation, efficiency and compassion can come together to transform elective care for patients across Scotland. By collaborating with teams nationally, embracing new approaches, and continually improving our model of care, we’re helping to build a more sustainable and resilient health service for the future.”
