ENT Casualty

As you are aware the South lnfirmary - Victoria University Hospital as the Regional Centre for Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Services runs a 24 hour Emegency service for ENT Emergencies, including post operative complications.

This is not a walk- in service. The ENT on-call team must be contacted in advance. To access this service the ENT on-call team can be contacted on 021-4926100. The oncall team will give advice on the most appropriate pathway for the patient.

Unsuitable for ED Casualty

Any neck lump or queried malignancy is not suitable for ENT ED and should be referred for urgent consultant OPD review. An exception to this would be an acute airway obstruction’

Guidelines for referrals to ENT ED

Immediate review: call ENT On Call                                    

• Severe or persistent epistaxis
• Tonsillar haemorrhage
• Hoarseness associated with neck trauma or surgery
• Laryngeal obstruction and/or fracture
• Stridor
• Acute nasal fracture with septal haematoma.
• Complicated mastoiditis/cholesteatoma or sinusitis (periorbital cellulitis, frontal sinusitis with persistent frontal headache)
• Pharyngeal/laryngeal, upper oesophageal foreign body
• Abscess or haematoma, eg peritonsillar abscess, septal or auricular
• haematoma, paranasal sinus pyocele.
• Nasal foreign body – battery
• Sudden sensorineural hearing loss
• Acute tonsillitis/ pharyngitis failing to respond to routine measures and requiring admission for IV therapy

ENT On Call can be reached through hospital switch (021 4926100) for all emergencies.

Urgent review: refer to Rapid Access Clinic ENT (RACE)

• Acute facial nerve trauma
• Sialadenitis/sialolithiasis failing to respond to therapy
• Nasal fracture with external nasal deformity
• Chronic persistent unilateral nasal discharge in a child
• Foreign body in the ear
• Acute Otitis externa failing to respond to topical therapy
• Lower motor neurone facial nerve paralysis

RACE Clinic

The clinic is staffed by a SHO and ANP (Advanced Nurse Practitioner) with another/ or more senior SpR/ Registrar available to help as necessary.

Hours of operation: 9am – 1pm (Monday to Thursday)

Referrals will be accepted through Healthlink.