A knee replacement replaces damaged parts of the knee joint with metal or plastic parts. It can replace the whole joint (total knee replacement) or part of it (partial knee replacement). It is most often done for pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis, when other treatments have not helped.
Full recovery can take several months or more, and a knee replacement can last for 25 years. All knee replacements in England, NHS and private, are recorded in the National Joint Registry, which publishes outlier status for revision (repeat surgery) rates for total, partial (unicondylar) and kneecap (patellofemoral) replacements.
Hospitals in the North East
20 hospitals in the North East with published figures. Sorted by name. This is not a ranking: read how to read this first.
The NJR open data gives one total per hospital for all joint replacements (hips, knees, ankles, elbows and shoulders) together. It does not split hips from knees.
| Hospital | Volume bandJoint replacements, all joints, 2025 (NJR) | Key outcomeNJR outlier status | Waiting timeWhole trust | Patient experience | CQC rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Auckland HospitalNHS · County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust | 750 to 999885 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 564, 2024: 745 | Not identified as an outlierMore measures
| 7.4 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 74.6% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.9 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | No Approved Rating (CQC report for Bishop Auckland Hospital) |
| Darlington Memorial HospitalNHS · County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust | 400 to 749509 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 322, 2024: 467 | Not identified as an outlierMore measures
| 7.4 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 74.6% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.9 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for Darlington Memorial Hospital) |
| Freeman HospitalNHS · The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 1,000 or more1,463 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 1,103, 2024: 1,523 | Identified as an outlier: Total knee 5-year revisionMore measures
| 12.3 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 62.7% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.4 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Freeman Hospital) |
| Hexham General HospitalNHS · Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | Fewer than 4001 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 938, 2024: 1,001 | Not identified as an outlierMore measures
| 12.1 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 70.5% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | Better than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 8.7 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Outstanding (CQC report for Hexham General Hospital) |
| The James Cook University HospitalNHS · South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 750 to 999807 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 646, 2024: 809 | Identified as an outlier: Total knee 10-year revisionMore measures
| 12.4 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 67.5% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.4 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for The James Cook University Hospital) |
| North Tyneside General HospitalNHS · Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 1,000 or more1,395 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 673, 2024: 950 | Not identified as an outlierMore measures
| 12.1 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 70.5% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | Better than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 8.7 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for North Tyneside General Hospital) |
| Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care HospitalNHS · Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 400 to 749573 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 434, 2024: 580 | Not identified as an outlierMore measures
| 12.1 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 70.5% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | Better than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 8.7 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital) |
| Nuffield Health Newcastle-upon-Tyne HospitalPrivate hospitalPrivate hospital: NJR figures include privately funded and NHS-funded operations. | 1,000 or more1,230 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 945, 2024: 1,012 | Not identified as an outlierEach NJR measure
| Not published for private hospitals | Not covered by NHS patient surveys | Good (CQC report for Nuffield Health Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospital) |
| Nuffield Health Tees HospitalPrivate hospitalPrivate hospital: NJR figures include privately funded and NHS-funded operations. | 1,000 or more1,338 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 1,197, 2024: 1,240 | Not identified as an outlierEach NJR measure
| Not published for private hospitals | Not covered by NHS patient surveys | Good (CQC report for Nuffield Health Tees Hospital) |
| Queen Elizabeth HospitalNHS · Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust | 1,000 or more1,013 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 783, 2024: 1,017 | Not identified as an outlierMore measures
| 15.3 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 58.5% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | Better than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 8.8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for Queen Elizabeth Hospital) |
| Royal Victoria InfirmaryNHS · The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Fewer than 40089 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 15, 2024: 239 | Not identified as an outlierMore measures
| 12.3 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 62.7% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.4 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Not Rated (CQC report for Royal Victoria Infirmary) |
| South Tyneside District HospitalNHS · South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS FT | Fewer than 400330 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 247, 2024: 349 | Not identified as an outlierMore measures
| 15.6 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 55.4% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for South Tyneside District Hospital) |
| Spire Washington HospitalPrivate hospitalPrivate hospital: NJR figures include privately funded and NHS-funded operations. | 1,000 or more1,623 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 1,384, 2024: 1,498 | Not identified as an outlierEach NJR measure
| Not published for private hospitals | Not covered by NHS patient surveys | Good (CQC report for Spire Washington Hospital) |
| Sunderland Royal HospitalNHS · South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS FT | 1,000 or more1,105 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 955, 2024: 1,136 | Identified as an outlier: Unicondylar knee 10-year revisionMore measures
| 15.6 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 55.4% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Sunderland Royal Hospital) |
| Tees Valley HospitalPrivate hospitalPrivate hospital: NJR figures include privately funded and NHS-funded operations. | 750 to 999939 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 856, 2024: 944 | Not identified as an outlierEach NJR measure
| Not published for private hospitals | Not covered by NHS patient surveys | Good (CQC report for Tees Valley Hospital) |
| University Hospital North DurhamNHS · County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust | 400 to 749532 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 381, 2024: 473 | Not identified as an outlierMore measures
| 7.4 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 74.6% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.9 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for University Hospital North Durham) |
| University Hospital of HartlepoolNHS · North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust | 400 to 749669 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 617, 2024: 732 | Not identified as an outlierMore measures
| 8 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 85.1% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for University Hospital of Hartlepool) |
| University Hospital of North TeesNHS · North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust | 400 to 749431 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 194, 2024: 224 | Not identified as an outlierMore measures
| 8 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 85.1% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for University Hospital of North Tees) |
| Wansbeck General HospitalNHS · Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 1,000 or more2,341 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 1,553, 2024: 1,837 | Identified as an outlier: Unicondylar knee 5-year revision; Unicondylar knee 10-year revisionMore measures
| 12.1 weeksHalf of people waiting for trauma and orthopaedics had waited less than this. 70.5% waiting under 18 weeks (August 2026) | Better than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 8.7 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Outstanding (CQC report for Wansbeck General Hospital) |
| Woodlands HospitalPrivate hospitalPrivate hospital: NJR figures include privately funded and NHS-funded operations. | 1,000 or more1,239 joint replacements of all kinds recorded in 2025Earlier years: 2023: 1,288, 2024: 1,211 | Not identified as an outlierEach NJR measure
| Not published for private hospitals | Not covered by NHS patient surveys | Good (CQC report for Woodlands Hospital) |
Across England
In 2025-26, NHS-funded care in England (NHS hospitals and NHS patients treated by independent providers; private patients are not included) recorded 103,876 episodes where the main procedure was total knee replacement (OPCS-4 W40 to W42). 2% were day cases. Half of the people admitted from a waiting list had waited less than about 134 days from the decision to admit them. These are national figures from Hospital Episode Statistics (NHS England, 2025-26, Open Government Licence v3.0); the same detail is not published for each hospital.
Hospitals identified as outliers across the UK in the NJR 2025 file (out of 403): Total Knee 5-year revision: 8; Total Knee 10-year revision: 25; Unicondylar Knee 5-year revision: 2; Unicondylar Knee 10-year revision: 5; Patellofemoral Knee 5-year revision: 1; Patellofemoral Knee 10-year revision: 1.
How to read this
- Not a ranking. The table is in alphabetical order. A higher volume does not on its own mean better care, and we do not combine the columns into a score.
- Volume bands. Cut points are the lower quartile, median and upper quartile of all 398 hospitals that reported to the NJR in 2025 in the published table, rounded. So about a quarter of hospitals that reported to the NJR in 2025 fall in each band. The exact number is shown under the band.
- Risk adjustment. Where a figure says “adjusted”, the audit has allowed for differences in the patients each hospital treats, such as age and other illnesses. Hospitals that take on more complex cases can still look different for reasons the adjustment does not capture.
- Bands and limits. We only say a result is higher or lower than expected when the source itself says so (for example NJR outlier status, NELA funnel limits, SSNAP levels, CQC survey bands). Where the source publishes a rate without limits we show the rate and the national figure, and say “No banding published”.
- Small numbers. A small hospital can have 0% or a high percentage by chance. Figures the source suppresses are shown as “Not published (small numbers)”.
- Trust or hospital. Volumes and outcomes here are for each hospital or team, but waiting times and the CQC inpatient survey are for the whole trust.
- Different periods. Each figure has its own period, shown next to it. Audit results describe operations done one to three years ago; waiting times are updated monthly.
- Private hospitals. NHS waiting times and NHS patient surveys do not cover private hospitals. Private hospital data published by PHIN cannot be republished here without a licence.
- Talk to your GP or consultant about what the figures mean for you. If you are referred for planned care in England, you can usually choose your hospital.
Full definitions: methodology and data dictionary.
Data sources and licences
- National Joint Registry (NJR) transparency data, National Joint Registry / HQIP. Source: National Joint Registry (NJR) transparency data, via data.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
- Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times, NHS England. Source: NHS England, Referral to Treatment waiting times. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
- CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025 (trust benchmark results), Care Quality Commission. Source: Care Quality Commission, NHS Patient Survey Programme, Adult Inpatient Survey 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
- CQC ratings, Care Quality Commission. CQC ratings: Care Quality Commission. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
- Healthcare-associated infections: annual counts and rates by trust (financial year 2025 to 2026), UK Health Security Agency. Source: UK Health Security Agency, healthcare-associated infection annual data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
Data last updated 26 October 2026. We do not change the published figures; we only group volumes into bands. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Sources
We checked this guide against these official pages on 26 October 2026.
- Knee replacement: what is a knee replacement? (NHS website)
- Knee replacement: recovery (NHS website)
- National Joint Registry transparency data (data.gov.uk) (National Joint Registry)
- Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity 2025-26 (NHS England)
- Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times 2026-27 (NHS England)
- Adult inpatient survey (Care Quality Commission)
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