Five GIRFT HVLC pathways for orthopaedic surgery now updated
Five key national pathways for elective orthopaedic surgery procedures have now been updated by the GIRFT team, in collaboration with the British Orthopaedic Association and orthopaedic specialist societies, supporting colleagues across England to use clinics and theatres more efficiently and reduce waiting times.
GIRFT has worked with a wide range of stakeholders* on the updates, and the following pathways are now available for download on the GIRFT website:
- Total primary total hip replacement
- Total and uni-compartmental primary knee replacement
- Dupuytrens disease
- Shoulder arthroscopy for rotator cuff repair (RCR) or subacromial decompression (SAD) pathway
- Hallux valgus and rigidus
The 2026 updates ensure that the follow-up section of the pathways aligns with GIRFT’s Further Faster Follow-Up Protocols and GIRFT Standardising Follow-Up guidance.
Join our joint webinar
GIRFT and the British Orthopaedic Association are jointly presenting a webinar on making best use of the updated national pathways for elective orthopaedic surgery.
Taking place on 13th October 2026 (1pm - 2pm), the session will be hosted by GIRFT programme lead Professor Tim Briggs and the President of the British Orthopaedic Association, Professor Amar Rangan, and will highlight the key updates to the pathways.
Register now
*The five pathways have been co-badged by:
- British Orthopaedic Association (BOA)
- British Hip Society (BHS)
- British Association for Surgery of the Knee (BASK)
- British Elbow & Shoulder Society (BESS)
- British Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (BOFAS)
- British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH)
- British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS)