The National Joint Registry 

Introduction to the NJR

Hip and knee joint replacements have become common and highly successful operations that bring many patients improved mobility and relief from pain.

A number of people may at some time in the future need another operation on the same joint.  This may occur for a variety of reasons, most commonly because the joint implant has worn out.  There are many different types of hip and knee implants, many of which do not have data on their long-term effectiveness.

To further improve the success of this surgery, the Department of Health and the Welsh Assembly Government set up the National Joint Registry (NJR) to monitor the performance of joint implants.

The NJR is designed to record details of all hip and knee replacement operations in England and Wales.  Both the NHS and the independent healthcare sector are included, and to be successful the NJR needs to gather information on as many people having these operations as possible.

What is the National Joint Registry?

The National Joint Registry (NJR) collects information on total hip and knee replacement operations from hospitals in England and Wales.  The Registry will help to find out which are the best performing implants and the most effective type of surgery.

How will the NJR benefit Patients and the National Health Service?

The NJR is likely to improve the care of patients who have had joint replacements in the past, likely to have the surgery in the near future and in the distant future.  This will be achieved by the following:

*  improve awareness of the outcomes of hip and knee replacement

*  help obtain the best clinical care for joint replacement surgery

*  provide evidence for which are the best performing implants

*  identify any brand of implant showing high failure rates

*  improve surgical practice through the identification and sharing of best orthopaedic practice in hospitals

*  providing feedback to orthopaedic surgeons and teams to help maintain high clinical standards

*  monitor and compare the performance of hospitals.

*  promoting open publication of the performance of implants

*  providing feedback on implant performance to regulatory authorities.

*  providing feedback to suppliers about the performance of their implants

*  monitoring and comparing the performance of hospitals.

*  ensure NHS and other healthcare resources are best used

*  helping to identify individual patients who have received an implant if there is a need for urgent clinical review.

What data is collected?

Details of your operation and your implants will be recorded on the NJR by your hospital.  However, your personal details such as your name and address will only be recorded if you give your consent.

Why does the NJR need my personal details?

For the NJR to be most effective it needs to collect as many records as possible that include patient personal details.  Personal details required by the NJR are:

*  Surname

*  Forename

*  Date of birth

*  Home address & postcode

*  NHS number

Recording your personal details enables the NJR to link you to the implant(s) you received during surgery.  This means that if a problem with a specific implant is identified in the future the NJR will be able to help identify the patients who received it.

Recording your personal details will also give the NJR the opportunity to invite you to participate in a patient feedback survey.  The survey will give you the chance to express your views on whether your quality of life has been improved by the surgery you received.

Your personal data will be treated as confidential at all times.  The NJR and all Consultants at Basford Consulting Rooms have signed up to the Data Protection Act.

You can request a copy of your personal data held on the NJR.  Requests must be made in writing to the NJR Centre.

Do I have to give my consent?

Your participation in the NJR is entirely voluntary.  However, it is important that your hospital gives you the opportunity to participate.  If you want the NJR to record your personal details speak to your hospital, they will ask you to sign a consent form.

Do you want to find out more about the NJR?

*  Visit the website at  www.njrcentre.org.uk

*  Call the NJR Helpline on 0845 345 9991

*  Send an email to enquiries@njrcentre.org.uk

*  Write to

The NJR Centre

Peoplebuilding 2

Peoplebuilding Estate

Maylands Avenue

Hemel Hempstead HP2 4NW