RCHT ENT Advice and Guidance

This guideline applies to children and adults.

 

Introduction

Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust (RCHT) offers an ENT Advice and Guidance service on e-RS. The service offers management options to consider prior to referral, with the aim of reducing the number of patients who need to be seen face-to-face. It also allows ENT consultants to consider the clinical information and advise regarding appropriate prioritisation and urgency of referral.

 

Inclusion criteria (not exhaustive)

• Suspected nasal malignancy
• Suspected ear canal cancer
• Patient falls outside referral criteria
• Diagnostic uncertainty
• Queries about primary care management
• An option for benign congenital / developmental mass demonstrated on neck ultrasound

 

Exclusion criteria (not exhaustive)

• Suspected head and neck cancer meeting the Fast Track ENT Suspected Cancer criteria:
  • Un-investigated, unexplained palpable lump in the neck (includes thyroid, parotid & submandibular gland)
  • Unexplained persistent (> 4 weeks) sore or painful throat (especially with otalgia)
  • Persistent (> 3 weeks) unexplained hoarseness and aged 45yr or over
• Patients already under the care of ENT – in this situation, contact the consultant directly

 

Please note that the clinical responsibility remains with the GP until the patient is seen within secondary care.

 

Page Review Information

Review date	02 May 2024
Next review date	02 May 2026
GP speciality lead	Dr Laura Vines
Contributors	Mr Venkat Reddy, Consultant ENT Surgeon