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.

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.