Emergency Clinic Criteria

Emergency Clinic Criteria

• Strictly appointments only. No walk-in appointments

•Nurses hold the referral pager Monday-Friday 0800-1600 hrs

•Clinic is covered by junior members of the ENT team

•The nurses make a clinical decision based on strict departmental referral criteria if the patient is appropriate for the Emergency Clinic or if the patient would be better seen in main ENT outpatients/rapid access. Cases will be discussed with senior ENT doctors if any doubts.

•Only accepted referrals via telephone calls from GP’s or accident & emergency are seen. Sending of a faxed referral alone without discussion does not guarantee an appointment.

•Patients must bring with them a formal written/typed referral after the patient has been accepted for clinic. Faxed letters after the patient has been accepted for clinic can also be sent.

Fractured Noses

•Seen 7-10 days post injury. If longer, please refer to main ENT outpatient clinic. Manipulation of the fractured nose, if appropriate, can be done under local anaesthetic in clinic.

The Emergency clinic does not see

•Acute otitis media unless suspicion of a complication (e.g. mastoiditis)

•Vertigo/Dizziness – please refer to main ENT outpatient clinic

•Sinusitis unless suspicion of a complication (e.g. orbital cellulitis)

•Removal of sutures/splints

•Ward discharges

•Facial palsy without hearing loss (Facial palsy accompanied with hearing loss are seen in the emergency clinic).

 

Referrals 

Main hospital switchboard                        0121 424 2000

Referral pager number                                0136 

Fax number                                                      0121 424 0560