Hip impingement
Hip impingement (also called femoroacetabular impingement, or FAI) is where the bones of the hip are shaped so they rub during movement. Read more about hip impingement →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the orthopaedics wait, updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
orthopaedics waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | Reading | 5 weeks |
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | Bath and North East Somerset | 12 weeks |
| Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Liverpool | 13 weeks |
| George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | Nuneaton and Bedworth | 13 weeks |
| South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | Warwick | 14 weeks |
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | Birmingham | 15 weeks |
| South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Middlesbrough | 15 weeks |
| University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Camden | 16 weeks |
About hip impingement
Hip impingement, or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), is where the bones of the hip are shaped so that they rub together during movement. This can pinch the soft tissue in the joint and cause groin or hip pain, especially when squatting, sitting for long periods or turning, and sometimes clicking or stiffness. It is more common in younger, active adults.
How it is treated
Many people are managed without surgery. The usual first steps are activity changes to avoid the positions that hurt, pain relief, and physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles around the hip and improve how it moves. When symptoms are persistent and clearly coming from the impingement, keyhole surgery to reshape the bone and repair any damage inside the joint is an option a specialist can discuss.
After treatment
Symptoms often improve with activity changes and exercises over several months. If surgery is done, recovery is gradual and guided by physiotherapy; keeping the surrounding muscles strong helps protect the joint either way.
Sources: NHS: Hip pain. Last updated October 2026.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.