Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

Outpatients
Level 2
Torbay Hospital
Lowes Bridge
Torquay TQ2 7AA

Tel: 01803 656850
Appointments: 01803 656324

Services

We specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of problems affecting parts of the head and neck.

Some examples of the illnesses we deal with:

  • all conditions of the ear – hearing loss, infections and other conditions.

  • conditions of the nose – injuries to the nose, deformities of the nose, cosmetic nasal surgery, nasal allergies, nasal blockage, sinus infections and tumours of the nose and sinuses.

  • conditions of the throat – inflammations of the throat, such as tonsillitis, snoring, swallowing disorders, voice disorders, and tumours of the throat and larynx.

  • head and neck diseases – swellings in the neck, arising in the lymph nodes of the neck, salivary glands, developmental disorders, cysts, thyroid disorders and tumours arising in the tissues of the neck.

A 24-hour emergency service is provided for all patients requiring ENT intervention, following either referral from a general practitioner to a member of the medical staff or via a referral from the Emergency Department (A&E).

Torbay Hospital offers full inpatient and outpatient service with the exception of complex neuro-otological, craniofacial and paediatric otolaryngological cases requiring paediatric intensive care, on an elective basis. Outpatient Clinics are also held at our community hospitals.

Audiological support is provided to the majority of Outpatient Clinics.

Special interests

The Unit provides a service for the whole spectrum of otorhinolarynological disease, including Head & Neck Oncology (working in close co-operation with the Maxillofacial Department).

In addition, members of the department have special interests in:

  • rhinology and endoscopic sinus surgery
  • head and neck cancer surgery with reconstruction
  • otosclerosis
  • voice disorders
  • bone-anchored hearing aids
  • audio vestibular assessment.
  • salivary gland disease
  • thyroid disease

The Audiology Department manufactures aids on site and provides an extensive domiciliary support network, and supports the Community Hearing Assessment Clinics on a regular basis.

Special clinics include:

  • the joint Head & Neck Oncology clinic (held in conjunction with the Departments of Clinical Oncology, Plastic Surgery, Radiology, Speech Therapy, Dietetics, Maxillofacial Surgery and Ophthalmology);
  • a specialist Voice Clinic with full laryngographic and video stroboscopic facilities.
  • the joint Thyroid Clinic
  • the Audio-Vestibular to rehabilitate and teach patients how to cope with vertigo and dizziness.

The unit also:

  • provides a full post-laryngectomy speech rehabilitation service and is part of the Joint Dysphagia Assessment Group (a multidisciplinary team co-ordinating the assessment and management of patients with swallowing disorders);
  • collaborates with the Paediatric Department in running the Joint Clinic for the assessment and management of children with chronic hearing disabilities.