Hip & knee replacement — home the same evening.
Mr Bawale leads the same-day hip and knee replacement programme at Medway Maritime Hospital, helping carefully selected patients recover in the comfort of their own home.
What it means
Same-day surgery, explained.
In a same-day (day-case) joint replacement, you have your operation and go home that evening instead of staying in hospital for several days.
Same-day hip arthroplasty was introduced at Medway in 2024. Patients are supported at home by the hospital’s SMART team (Surgical, Medical and Acute Recovery Team), which provides nursing, therapy and remote monitoring so help is close by while you recover.
It isn’t right for everyone. Mr Bawale is clear that careful patient selection is the key to success — your general health, your home circumstances and your preferences are all considered before this route is recommended.
Assessed individually
Suitability is decided case by case, with safety first.
Recover at home
Sleep in your own bed, with a dedicated community team behind you.
Support when you need it
Nursing, therapy and remote monitoring through the SMART team.
The pathway
How a same-day journey works.
Selection
Your suitability is assessed carefully at consultation.
Preparation
You’re prepared for surgery and for the early days of recovery.
Surgery
Your hip or knee replacement is performed by Mr Bawale.
Home that evening
Once you’re safely up and moving, you go home.
SMART team support
Nursing, therapy and remote monitoring support you at home.
Medway milestone
A first for Medway.
In August 2025, Medway NHS Foundation Trust reported a milestone for the programme.
A patient from Rochester became the first at Medway to have both hips replaced as same-day operations within six months — going home the same evening after each one. It was also the first same-day hip replacement Mr Bawale had performed, and by then the service had delivered 24 same-day hip and knee replacements since launch.
Read the Medway NHS news storyIs it right for you?
Ask about same-day surgery.
Mr Bawale will assess whether a same-day route is safe and sensible for you. Same-day surgery is offered at Medway Maritime Hospital for suitable patients.